Jury Duty Pay in Texas

About Jury Duty in Texas

Texas raised juror pay from $6/$40 to $20/$58 per day effective September 1, 2023, via HB 3474 — the first meaningful increase in decades. While the increase is significant, Texas still lags behind states like New York ($72/day) and federal jury service ($50/day from day one).

How Jury Pay Works

Texas uses a two-tier system: $20 for the first day and $58 for each subsequent day. Mileage reimbursement varies by county and is set at the county level rather than in the state statute. Some counties — Travis (Austin), Bexar (San Antonio), and Dallas — pay above the statutory minimum.

254 Counties, One Minimum

Texas has 254 counties — more than any other state — and each manages its own jury operations. Despite this decentralization, the $20/$58 rate is set by state law and applies as a minimum statewide. The previous $6/$40 rate traced to 1985/2005 respectively, and a 2023 bill (HB 2014) to raise it to $20/$58 passed committee but died on the floor. The identical raise was ultimately enacted through HB 3474, an omnibus bill signed by Governor Abbott.

The Big County Experience

Harris County (Houston): Summons over 400,000 jurors annually — one of the largest jury pools in the country. The downtown jury assembly room processes up to 1,500 jurors per day. Free METRO transit passes are available.

Dallas County: The George L. Allen Sr. Courts Building handles jury operations downtown. DART light rail and bus passes are available. Dallas County pays above the statutory minimum.

Travis County (Austin): Smaller scale, with a modern jury assembly facility. Downtown parking can be challenging during SXSW and other major events. Travis County supplements the state rate for longer trials.

Loving County: On the opposite extreme, Loving County (population ~60) has one of the smallest jury pools in America. Assembling a jury panel here can be a genuine logistical challenge.

Employer Protections

Texas does not require employers to pay wages during jury service, but employers cannot fire or penalize an employee for jury duty. Many larger Texas employers (including energy companies and hospital systems) continue full salary voluntarily, creating a similar two-tier dynamic to California.

Travel Considerations

In a state as large as Texas, some jurors face significant travel. A juror in far West Texas (El Paso area) or the Panhandle may need to drive 50+ miles each way to the county seat. Mileage reimbursement helps offset this but varies by county. Rural jurors feel this particularly acutely, since lower population density means longer average travel distances to the courthouse.

Statute: Tex. Gov't Code Ann. § 61.001 — Official source