Jury Duty Pay in Missouri

About Jury Duty in Missouri

Missouri’s juror pay varies significantly by county type. Large counties (Class 1, non-charter, 200K+ population) pay $0 for days 1-2 and $50/day from day 3 onward. Standard counties pay a $6/day base with the option to authorize up to $18+/day with a state match. The $6 base rate (established 1989, last amended 2001) is among the lowest statutory minimums in the country.

How Jury Pay Works

Under RSMo § 494.455, standard counties pay $6/day and may authorize higher amounts with state matching funds. Class 1 counties with 200K+ population use a different scale: $0 for the first two days, then $50/day. Mileage reimbursement typically follows the federal GSA rate. Missouri has robust anti-retaliation protection under RSMo § 494.460.

The Urban-Rural Divide

St. Louis City Circuit Court is an independent jurisdiction (not part of St. Louis County), meaning city and county residents on the same block may report to different courthouses with different amenities. Multiple bills to raise the base rate — 2021 HB 4717, 2023 HB 0528, 2024 HB 3153, 2025 HB 1624 — have been introduced, proposing rates from $25/day to tying it to minimum wage. None have passed.

Employer Obligations

Missouri employers are not required to pay wages during jury service. They cannot fire or penalize employees, but there is no compensation mandate. Unlike Tennessee, where employer mandates cover most workers despite a low state rate, Missouri provides no such backstop.

How Missouri Compares

Missouri’s $6 base is among the lowest statutory minimums in the country. Neighboring Illinois pays $25/$50 and Iowa pays $30/$50. The large-county $0/$50 structure resembles Florida’s tiered approach. Federal jurors in Missouri’s two districts (Eastern in St. Louis, Western in Kansas City) receive $50/day from day one. The disparity between the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse (federal) and the St. Louis Circuit Court (state), separated by a few city blocks, is among the starkest in the country.

Statute: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 494.455 — Official source