Jury duty pay depends on where you serve. US federal jurors get $50 a day, UK jurors aren't paid but can claim up to £64.95 a day for lost earnings and care costs, and in Australia most employees get 'make-up pay' from their employer for the first 10 days. In the US and UK, your employer doesn't have to keep paying your salary.
Here are the official rates and employer rules as of October 2026, taken from the US Courts, GOV.UK and the Fair Work Ombudsman. State courts in the US and Australia set their own juror fees, so check your summons if you're not on a federal or English jury.
Jury duty pay at a glance
| US (federal courts) | England and Wales | Australia (Fair Work) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court payment | $50 a day | No fee; claim up to £64.95 a day for lost earnings and care | Set by state and territory law |
| Longer trials | Up to $60 a day after 10 days (petit), 45 days (grand), if ordered | Up to £129.91 a day after 10 working days | Varies by state |
| Employer must pay? | No | No | Yes: make-up pay for the first 10 days (not casuals) |
| Job protection | Yes | Yes | Yes |
United States: federal jurors
The US Courts set federal juror pay at $50 for each day of service. Petit jurors can get up to $60 a day after 10 days if the presiding judge orders it; grand jurors can get up to $60 a day after 45 days. Jurors may also be reimbursed for reasonable travel and, in some courts, parking, plus meals and lodging if they must stay overnight.
Two details surprise people. Federal government employees get their regular salary instead of the fee. And while the Jury Selection and Service Act forbids an employer from firing, intimidating or coercing a permanent employee because of federal jury service, federal law doesn't require the employer to keep paying you. Many companies do, so check your handbook before you assume.
England and Wales: what you can claim
GOV.UK is blunt: you won't be paid for jury service, but you can claim back some lost earnings and expenses. Your employer must let you have time off, can ask you to delay if your absence would seriously affect the business, and can choose whether to pay you.
| Daily claim limit (loss of earnings and care) | 4 hours or less at court | More than 4 hours at court |
|---|---|---|
| First 10 days | £32.47 | £64.95 |
| After 10 working days | £64.95 | £129.91 |
On top, you can claim food and drink (£5.71 a day for up to 10 hours at court, £12.17 for longer) and travel: the standard return fare for public transport, or 31.4p per mile if you drive. You can't claim accommodation, and only travel within England and Wales counts. If you don't return the summons form or don't turn up, you can be fined up to £1,000.
The math matters for anyone earning more than the cap. A day's loss of earnings above £64.95 in your first 10 days simply isn't covered unless your employer pays you. That's the conversation to have with your manager the day the summons arrives. Being sacked for jury service may give you an unfair dismissal claim.
Before the trial starts
- Reply to the summons on time: in England and Wales that's within 7 days, even if you think you're disqualified.
- Give your employer a copy of the summons the day you get it.
- Ask in writing whether your salary continues during service.
- Keep travel receipts and note your hours at court each day, since the claim limits depend on them.
Australia: make-up pay from your employer
Jury duty is a type of community service leave under the National Employment Standards, and all employees, including casuals, can take it. Full-time and part-time employees must be paid by their employer for the first 10 days they're absent, at their base pay rate for the ordinary hours they'd have worked.
If the employer asks for evidence of what the court is paying you and you provide it, the employer only owes 'make-up pay': the gap between the court payment and your base pay. Don't provide requested evidence and you lose the employer payment for those 10 days.
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- Tell your employer about the leave and how long you expect it to last as soon as possible.
- Give evidence of attendance if asked.
- Give evidence of the court payment if asked, so make-up pay can be worked out.
- Check your award or agreement for anything more generous.
Fair Work's example, as of October 2026: Julie earns $300 a day and the court pays $90 a day. For her first 10 days her employer pays $210 a day of make-up pay; for days 11 to 15 the employer owes nothing, though the court still pays $90. Casuals don't get employer pay under the national standards, but state laws or their award may give them something.
The verdict
If you're summoned, read the employer rules before the court rates. In Australia you're covered for 10 days by your employer. In the UK and US federal courts, your income depends on your employer's policy, and the court fee is a top-up, not a wage. Ask HR early, keep your summons and your receipts, and if it's a long trial, track the day you cross the 10-day mark: that's when the rates change. If it's your first time, our guide on what to wear to jury service covers the day itself.
Frequently asked questions
How much do federal jurors get paid in the US?
$50 a day, with up to $60 a day after 10 days for petit jurors (if the judge orders it) and after 45 days for grand jurors.
Do you get paid for jury service in the UK?
No fee, but you can claim up to £64.95 a day for lost earnings and care costs in the first 10 days, rising to £129.91 after that, plus travel and food.
Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty?
In Australia, yes, for the first 10 days for full-time and part-time staff. In the UK and for US federal juries, employers can choose.
Do casuals get paid for jury duty in Australia?
Not under the National Employment Standards, though an award, agreement or state law may provide payment.
