Jury Duty Pay in North Carolina

About Jury Duty in North Carolina

North Carolina uses a graduated pay scale under G.S. 7A-312: $12 per day for the first day, $20 per day for days 2 through 5, and $40 per day from day 6 onward (within any 24-month period). The state made national headlines in 2024 when a Mecklenburg County murder trial saw multiple jurors dismissed for financial hardship, sparking renewed debate about juror compensation.

How Jury Pay Works

The three-tier graduated scale means jurors on longer trials receive progressively higher compensation. A one-day appearance pays $12, a three-day trial pays $52 total ($12 + $20 + $20), and a two-week trial (10 days) pays $292 total. Mileage reimbursement varies by county, typically at the federal GSA rate. There are no county supplements. The state is a “one day or one trial” jurisdiction, meaning most jurors are released after a single day.

The Mecklenburg County Incident

The 2024 Charlotte murder trial (the Brooks Sandwich House case) drew attention when at least two seated jurors were dismissed after citing they could not afford to continue serving — one reported losing $150/day in wages. While the trial continued with alternates, the incident drew coverage from national legal publications and prompted the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts to study juror pay adequacy for the first time in decades.

Employer Obligations

North Carolina employers are not required to pay wages during jury service, and there is no prohibition on requiring jurors to use paid time off. This puts North Carolina behind Georgia, which at least protects against termination, and far behind New York with its employer-paid first three days.

Regional Variation

North Carolina’s 100 counties range from Mecklenburg (Charlotte, population 1.1 million) to Tyrrell (population ~3,200). Courthouse facilities and jury amenities vary accordingly. Urban counties generally offer better parking and transit access; rural counties may have older facilities but shorter travel distances. The graduated pay scale helps somewhat for longer trials, but the $12 first-day rate is among the lowest in the country for initial service.

How North Carolina Compares

North Carolina’s $12 first-day rate is among the lowest in the country, though the scale rises to a more reasonable $40/day for extended service. Neighboring Virginia pays $50/day flat, and Georgia’s maximum is $50/day. The state’s Judicial Council is expected to issue formal recommendations on juror pay by the end of 2026.

Statute: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-312 — Official source