Jury Duty Pay in California

About Jury Duty in California

California’s jury duty pay is among the most criticized in the nation. Jurors receive $0 for the first day of service and just $15 per day starting day 2 — a rate unchanged since 2000. For many Californians, especially in high-cost cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, jury duty represents a financial hardship. Compare this with New York’s jury pay, which now stands at $72/day after a landmark 2025 increase.

The Two-Tier Reality

California’s employer landscape creates a stark two-tier experience for jurors:

Tech workers and corporate employees: Many major California employers — Google, Apple, Salesforce, and most large tech companies — continue full salary during jury service, making it financially painless.

Gig workers, small business employees, and the self-employed: With no state-mandated employer pay requirement and only $15/day from the state after day 1, a week of jury service pays just $60. That’s less than one day of minimum wage in California. This dynamic mirrors Texas, where the $6 first-day / $40 subsequent-day rate (largely unchanged for decades) creates a similar employer-dependent experience.

Mileage and Transit

California reimburses jurors at $0.34 per mile (round-trip since AB 1981 took effect in January 2023). In practice, many counties provide free transit passes instead. San Francisco jurors receive free Muni passes, and Los Angeles jurors can get Metro passes. The mileage reimbursement has not kept pace with California’s gas prices, which are consistently among the highest in the nation.

County Variations

California’s 58 counties each manage their own jury operations. Some notable differences:

• Los Angeles County: The largest jury system in the country, summoning over 1 million jurors annually. Free Metro transit passes are available.
• San Francisco County: Free Muni passes provided. The courthouse at 400 McAllister Street is accessible by BART and multiple bus lines.
• San Diego County: Parking at the downtown courthouse is reimbursed. Jurors can use the Trolley to reach the courthouse.

“One Day or One Trial”

California uses the “one day or one trial” system statewide. If you’re not selected for a jury on your first day, your service is complete. If selected, you serve for that trial’s duration. The average trial length varies by county and case type, but most last 3-7 days.

Recent Reform Efforts

California’s AB 1981 created a pilot program paying $100/day to low-income jurors in 7 counties, which launched in September 2024. However, the pilot was suspended in June 2025 when Governor Newsom cut its funding as part of broader budget reductions. SB 136 (2025) would formally repeal the program. Advocates continue to push for a statewide rate increase, noting that the current $15/day rate effectively excludes low-wage workers from jury service. For comparison, federal jurors receive $50/day — more than triple California’s post-day-1 rate — plus round-trip mileage at the GSA rate.

Statute: Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 215 — Official source