Jury Duty Pay in Massachusetts

About Jury Duty in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is one of the most juror-friendly states in America. It pays $50/day from the state, mandates employer-paid wages for the first three days of service, and pioneered the “one day or one trial” system that most states have since adopted. If you’re summoned for jury duty in Massachusetts, you’re better protected than almost anywhere else.

How Jury Pay Works

Massachusetts uses a flat $50/day rate from the state. Additionally, employers must pay regular wages for the first three days of jury service under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 234A, § 48. This dual-compensation model means the typical juror (who serves 1-3 days on most trials) sees no loss of income at all: the employer covers wages, and the $50/day from the state is essentially a supplement.

The mileage reimbursement follows the state rate, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) provides transit passes to jurors in the Boston metro area — a practical benefit in a region where driving to court can cost more in parking than the jury fee itself.

The “One Day or One Trial” Pioneer

Massachusetts was the first state to implement the “one day or one trial” system, which has since become the national standard. If you’re not selected for a jury on your first day, your service is complete. If selected, you serve for the duration of that trial. The average Massachusetts trial lasts 2-4 days, keeping financial disruption minimal for most jurors.

Employer Obligations

Massachusetts is one of only a handful of states — along with New York and Colorado — that mandate employer-paid wages during jury service. The first three days are covered by the employer at the employee’s regular wage rate. After day three, the state’s $50/day takes over. This protection extends to all employees regardless of tenure or hours worked, unlike Tennessee’s employer mandate, which requires six months of employment.

How Massachusetts Compares

Massachusetts’s $50/day state rate equals Georgia and Colorado, and the employer-paid first three days put it in a tier with New York ($72/day with employer-paid days 1-3). The combined state-plus-employer compensation model makes Massachusetts one of the best states for working jurors, particularly for short trials where employer coverage applies for the full duration. Very few states offer this level of comprehensive financial protection for jury service, making Massachusetts an outlier in the best possible way for its citizens.

Statute: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 234A, § 48 — Official source