Jury Duty Pay in Iowa

About Jury Duty in Iowa

Iowa pays jurors $30 per day and is one of the few states that explicitly reimburses round-trip mileage. The state’s rural character means many jurors drive substantial distances — some over 60 miles round-trip — making the mileage reimbursement a significant part of total juror compensation.

How Jury Pay Works

Iowa uses a flat $30/day rate under Iowa Code § 607A.9. Mileage is reimbursed at the state rate, typically $0.50/mile round-trip — which is notably higher than the federal GSA rate used by many states. Iowa is a “one day or one trial” state. There is no employer mandate to pay wages.

The Rural Mileage Factor

Iowa’s geography makes mileage reimbursement unusually important. The state’s 99 counties each operate their own jury system, and in rural counties, the courthouse may be the only significant government building for 30 miles in any direction. A juror in Ringgold County or Kossuth County might drive 30+ miles each way to the county seat — a 60-mile round trip.

At $0.50/mile, a 60-mile round trip reimburses $30 — exactly the daily jury rate. For these rural jurors, mileage effectively doubles their compensation, making jury service roughly breakeven on transportation. In urban Polk County (Des Moines), where jurors typically drive shorter distances, the mileage component is less significant.

Employer Obligations

Iowa employers are not required to pay wages during jury service but cannot penalize employees. Major Iowa employers — Principal Financial, John Deere, Rockwell Collins, and the state’s large insurance sector — typically continue salary voluntarily. Iowa’s strong agricultural cooperatives and manufacturing unions also frequently include jury duty pay in collective bargaining agreements.

The 99-County System

Iowa’s 99 counties each manage jury operations independently, creating substantial variation in facilities and practices. Polk County (Des Moines) and Linn County (Cedar Rapids) have modern, well-equipped jury facilities. Smaller counties may use historic courthouses with jury deliberation rooms that have changed little in a century.

How Iowa Compares

Iowa’s $30/day rate matches Florida and Virginia. It’s above neighboring Missouri’s $6/day and Kansas’s $10/day but below Illinois’s $25/day — wait, actually $30 is above $25. Iowa’s rate places it in the middle tier nationally. Federal jurors in Iowa’s two districts receive $50/day. Iowa is one of the more balanced jury systems: decent pay, strong mileage reimbursement, and reasonable protections, without reaching the elite tier of Connecticut or Massachusetts.

Statute: Iowa Code § 607A.8 — Official source