Federal Jury Duty Pay 2026: How Much You Actually Get

By the Between the News desk · researched with AI tools, checked and edited by a human editor

Federal jurors: $50/day for the first 10 days$60/day starting on day 11Mileage reimbursement: $0.725/mile (2026 IRS rate)Subsistence/lodging covered if an overnight stay is requiredSource: uscourts.gov juror pay policy

👁Decoded

Federal jury duty pays a flat daily rate that hasn't kept pace with inflation for years, but it's still worth knowing the exact numbers before you show up. For 2026, federal court jurors earn $50 a day for each of the first 10 days of service.

Serve longer than that — common in complex civil or criminal trials — and the daily rate jumps to $60 starting on day 11. There's no cap on how long this higher rate continues; it simply applies for every day beyond the initial 10.

On top of the daily fee, federal jurors get mileage reimbursement for driving to and from the courthouse, at $0.725 per mile for 2026 — the same rate the IRS uses for standard business mileage deductions that year. Courts also cover reasonable transportation costs beyond mileage in some cases, and parking fees at certain courthouses.

If a trial requires you to stay overnight away from home — sequestered juries or trials held far from your residence — the court also provides a subsistence allowance covering meals and lodging, on top of the daily pay and mileage.

This federal rate only applies to federal district court and grand jury service. State and county courts set their own, often lower, jury duty pay rates independently, so if you're serving in state court instead, don't assume these numbers apply — check your specific state's rate.

“Federal jury pay jumps from $50 to $60 a day after 10 days — most jurors never see the higher rate because most trials don't run that long.”