Jury Duty Pay in Florida

About Jury Duty in Florida

Florida has one of the most complex — and least generous — juror compensation systems in the country. Employed jurors receive $0 for the first three days of service (unemployed jurors get $15/day). Starting day four, all jurors receive $30/day. There is no mileage reimbursement whatsoever under Florida law. For a state with a high percentage of hourly workers in tourism and service industries, a multi-week trial can pose serious financial strain.

How Jury Pay Works

Under Fla. Stat. § 40.24, Florida’s pay structure breaks down as follows:

• Days 1–3 (employed): $0 — if you receive regular wages from your employer, you get nothing from the state
• Days 1–3 (not employed): $15/day — if you do not receive regular wages
• Days 4+: $30/day for all jurors regardless of employment status

There is no mileage, parking, or travel reimbursement. The statute explicitly states jurors “are not entitled to additional reimbursement for travel or other out-of-pocket expenses.” This makes Florida an outlier — most states, even those with low daily rates, at least reimburse mileage. In sprawling counties like Miami-Dade and Palm Beach where jurors may drive 30+ miles each way, the absence of mileage reimbursement can make jury service a net financial loss.

The Florida Climate Factor

Few states present the logistical challenges Florida does during jury duty. Many courthouse parking lots are uncovered, and jurors regularly face 90°F+ walks to the entrance during summer months. Thunderstorms add another layer of unpredictability. Some counties have added covered juror parking in recent years, but it’s far from universal. Unlike Texas, where air-conditioned downtown tunnels connect key buildings in Houston and Dallas, Florida’s courthouse infrastructure often assumes jurors drive and park.

Employer Obligations

Florida employers are not required to pay wages during jury service, though they cannot fire or penalize an employee for serving. This is similar to Georgia’s approach — another Sun Belt state with no employer mandate. Some large Florida employers, particularly in hospitality (Disney, Universal) and healthcare, voluntarily continue pay, but there is no legal guarantee.

Who Can Be Excused

Florida has some of the broadest exemption categories in the country. Anyone 70 or older can request to be excused — and can request permanent excusal from future summons. Parents not employed full-time with custody of a child under 6 may be excused. Full-time students between ages 18 and 21 may be excused. Primary caregivers for disabled family members may also be excused. These broad exemptions can significantly narrow the jury pool — particularly in retirement-heavy counties like Sarasota and Sumter.

How Florida Compares

Florida’s tiered system means the effective rate for employed jurors serving short trials is $0. For a 3-day trial, an employed juror receives nothing from the state — a result that puts Florida near the very bottom nationally. A two-week trial (10 business days) pays $210 total ($0 × 3 + $30 × 7), while the same service in New York pays $720. Even federal jurors receive $50/day with round-trip mileage. The contrast is particularly stark in Miami, where the state and federal courthouses sit within blocks of each other but offer dramatically different compensation for the same civic duty.

Statute: Fla. Stat. § 40.24 — Official source