California jurors are paid $15 a day plus 34 cents a mile, starting on the second day123. Where transit serves the courthouse, the court offers free transit or up to $12 a day, from the first day4. Private employers do not have to pay you5.
Day one and after
First day
Second day on
Who gets what
| Juror | Pay |
|---|---|
| Most jurors | $15 a day and mileage from day two12 |
| Public employees paid their regular salary while serving | No daily fee, but mileage from day two72 |
| Classified (non-teaching) school district employees | Paid jury leave of up to the difference between regular pay and juror fees; a district may limit how many staff (at least 2%) are on paid jury leave at once8 |
| Jurors in a sequestered criminal jury | Food and lodging may be provided9 |
Common situations
IfYour employer keeps paying you
Judicial Council guidance says court payments can be refunded by the employee to an employer who pays them; courts do not reimburse employers10.
IfYou heard about $100-a-day pay in San Francisco
The state law that created that pilot required it to end by December 31, 2023, and the law has since been repealed11. We have not confirmed whether San Francisco runs any program now; ask its jury office. Effective June 27, 2025, A.B. 136 repealed Code of Civil Procedure § 241, which authorized a pilot testing higher juror pay and mileage reimbursement in seven superior courts12.
IfYou live in Los Angeles County
You can trade mileage for a transit pass if you are told to return for a second day13. LA details.
What to do next
- Keep track of your mileage from the second day; it is paid both ways2.
- Ask the jury office about transit passes if you take the bus or train4.
- See California jury duty and your employer for whether your employer pays.
Related
Jury duty in CaliforniaAll the California rules.California jury duty and your employerLeave, notice and pay.
Sources
13 official sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215(a)."Except as provided in subdivision (b), on and after July 1, 2000, the fee for jurors in the superior court, in civil and criminal cases, is fifteen dollars ($15) a day for each day’s attendance as a juror after the first day."
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215(c)."All jurors in the superior court, in civil and criminal cases, shall be reimbursed for mileage at the rate of thirty-four cents ($0.34) per mile for each mile actually traveled in attending and returning from court as a juror after the first day."
- Judicial Branch of California - Jury Service (Juror Compensation). Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215(a), (c), (d)."The mileage payment starts on the second day. The public transit reimbursement starts on the first day."
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215(d)-(e)."All jurors and prospective jurors who have been summoned shall be provided with access to existing public transit services at no cost utilizing one of the following options: (1) Courts may partner with public transit operators in their county to create new programs or continue existing public transit programs that provide no-cost service for jurors and prospective jurors who have been summoned. (2) A method of reimbursement determined by the court up to a daily maximum of twelve dollars ($12)."
- Judicial Branch of California - Employer Information. Judicial Council Employer Information."State law does not require employers to compensate employees who are absent because of jury service."
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 213. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 213."Jurors available on one-hour telephone notice shall receive credit for each day of such availability towards their jury service obligation, but they shall not be paid unless they are actually required to make an appearance."
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 215(b)."A juror who is employed by a federal, state, or local government entity, or by any other public entity as defined in Section 481.200, and who receives regular compensation and benefits while performing jury service, shall not be paid the fee described in subdivision (a)."
- Cal. Educ. Code § 44037. Cal. Educ. Code § 44037 (see also § 87036 for community colleges)."The governing board shall grant such leave with pay up to the amount of the difference between the employee’s regular earnings and any amount he receives as juror’s fees."
- Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 217. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 217."In criminal cases only, while the jury is kept together, either during the progress of the trial or after their retirement for deliberation, the court may direct the sheriff or marshal to provide the jury with suitable and sufficient food and lodging, or other reasonable necessities."
- Judicial Branch of California - Employer Information. Judicial Council Employer FAQ."If an employer compensates the employee for jury service, those funds paid by the courts to the juror are refundable by the employee to the employer. However, the courts do not reimburse the employer directly."
- Former Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 240 (as added by AB 1452, 2021). Former Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 240 (Stats. 2021, ch. 717, AB 1452)."A trial juror in a criminal case shall be paid a fee of one hundred dollars ($100) per day for each day they are required to report for service as a trial juror if the trial juror’s household income for the past 12 months is less than 80 percent of the San Francisco Bay area median income and the trial juror meets one of the additional following criteria: | The pilot program court shall terminate the pilot program on or before December 31, 2023."
- AB 136 (2025) Courts budget trailer bill, chaptered text. Stats. 2025, ch. 11 (AB 136), § 1; former Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 241."SECTION 1.Section 241 of the Code of Civil Procedure is repealed."
- EPass Card | Superior Court of Los Angeles County. LASC EPass Card page."The EPass Card program offers jurors the option to utilize Metro or local city buses or Metro Rail service to and from jury service at all courthouses in exchange for their mileage reimbursement. Mileage reimbursement for jurors is currently $0.34 per mile round trip. | Jurors required to perform more than one day of jury service at any courthouse may participate but must be willing to waive their mileage reimbursement. Jurors instructed to report for further service on a second or subsequent day can visit the jury assembly room on their first day of service to complete the required waiver form and receive an EPass card good for immediate use."
Reviewed by Roger K. Neustadt, JD, attorney admitted in Georgia. Verified November 10, 2026.
Roger K. Neustadt is admitted in Georgia; pages about other states and federal courts are general information checked against official sources. How we check every rule: editorial policy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
This page explains the law in general terms and is not legal advice. Jury Duty Explained is not affiliated with any court. Your summons and your court's instructions control, so check them first.