Jury Duty Pay in New York

About Jury Duty in New York

New York made national headlines on June 8, 2025, by raising juror pay from $40 to $72 per day — the first increase since 1998. This landmark change affects millions of jurors statewide and puts New York among the highest-paying states for jury duty. For perspective, California jurors receive just $15/day after day 1, making New York’s rate nearly five times higher.

The Employer - State Split

New York divides jury pay into two distinct phases:

Days 1-3: If you work for an employer with 11 or more employees, your employer must pay at least the jury fee ($72/day as of June 2025). If your regular wage is lower than the fee, the employer pays your wage and the state covers the difference. If your employer has 10 or fewer employees, or you work part-time (under 25 hours/week), the state pays from day 1.

Day 4 onward: The state takes over and pays $72/day for each day you physically attend court. Your employer’s obligation ends after day 3, though many employers continue to pay voluntarily.

Strong Protections for Jurors

New York has some of the strongest juror protections in the US. Employers cannot fire, penalize, or discriminate against employees for jury service. They also cannot force you to use vacation, sick, or personal time for jury duty. Violations can result in criminal contempt charges — fines up to $1,000 and/or up to 30 days imprisonment. Only a handful of states, including Massachusetts and Illinois, offer comparable employee safeguards.

What to Expect

Most New York jurors serve under the “one day or one trial” system. If you’re not selected for a trial on your first day, your service is complete. If selected, you serve for the duration of that trial. The average trial in New York state courts lasts 2-5 days, though complex civil cases can run longer. The mileage reimbursement rate is $0.70 per mile (round-trip), which is competitive compared to many other states.

NYC Juror Tips

• MetroCards are available for jurors in NYC counties
• Bring your summons — you’ll need it for check-in
• Wi-Fi is available in most jury assembly rooms
• Lunch breaks are typically 12:30-2:00 PM
• Dress code is business casual (no shorts, tank tops, or flip-flops)

New York’s jury system serves as a model for other states considering pay reform. The 2025 rate increase came after sustained advocacy from legal aid organizations and bar associations who argued the old $40/day rate — itself unchanged since 2003 — excluded working-class New Yorkers from meaningful jury participation. Federal jury service, by contrast, pays a flat $50/day regardless of employer status, highlighting how state and federal systems can differ dramatically even within the same courthouse.

Statute: N.Y. Judiciary Law §§ 519, 521 — Official source