Work · Jury Duty
Jury Duty Pay in New York
Whether your employer must pay you during jury duty in New York, whether your job is protected for serving, the notice rules, and the remedies. Cited to the statute.
How jury-duty pay works in New York
Whether the employer must pay, whether your job is protected, and the notice and remedies.
| How it works | What it means |
|---|---|
| More than 10 employees must pay | The statute states an employer who employs more than ten employees shall not withhold the first seventy-two dollars of a juror’s daily wages during the first three days of jury service. Smaller employers are exempt from the pay duty. |
| First three days only | The $72-per-day duty covers only the first three days of jury service. After that, the employer need not pay and the juror collects the court’s per-diem. |
| You cannot be discharged for serving | Section 519 also provides that an employee shall not be subject to discharge or penalty because of absence for jury service, with pre-service notice to the employer. |
| Exceptions and remedies | What it means |
|---|---|
| Small employers exempt from pay | Employers with 10 or fewer employees need not pay for jury service, though the discharge protection still applies to them. |
| Court juror fee | The state juror fee is $72 a day, raised from $40 effective June 8, 2025. A large employer paying the first three days replaces the state fee for those days. |
| Contempt penalty | Discharging or penalizing an employee for jury service can be criminal contempt, punishable by a fine and possible jail. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps if you are summoned for jury duty in New York. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Check your employer’s size
If your employer has more than 10 employees, it must pay you $72 a day for the first three days of jury service. Smaller employers are exempt from the pay duty.
- Give notice before service
Notify your employer of the summons before the term of service begins to keep the protections in §519.
- Know the $72 figure is current
The daily amount rose from $40 to $72 effective June 8, 2025. If you see $40 quoted, it is out of date.
- Report a violation
If you are discharged or penalized for serving, or a large employer refuses the first-three-days pay, you can raise it with the court and the Department of Labor.
If you are punished for serving, or owed jury pay, a state labor agency can take your claim. This resource points to the right office.
→ New York State Department of Labor — Unpaid WagesThis is general legal information, not legal advice. Employer size, notice rules, and remedies can change the answer, so confirm your situation against the statute or with a licensed attorney.
What New York workers get wrong about jury duty
New York is the one state of this group that actually makes employers pay for jury duty, though only in part. Judiciary Law §519 provides that an employer with more than ten employees shall not withhold the first seventy-two dollars of a juror’s daily wages during the first three days of jury service. After three days, or for employers with ten or fewer employees, there is no pay duty, and the juror collects the court’s per-diem instead. The dollar figure changed recently: the state juror fee, and the first-three-days employer amount, rose from $40 to $72 effective June 8, 2025, so any older source is wrong. Separate from pay, §519 also protects the job: an employee cannot be discharged or penalized for absence due to jury service, provided notice is given before the term begins, and a violation can be criminal contempt. The two protections are independent, but New York is unusual in offering both. Check your employer’s headcount to know whether the first-three-days pay applies to you.
Common questions
Does my employer have to pay me for jury duty in New York?
If it has more than 10 employees, yes, $72 a day for the first three days, under Judiciary Law §519. Smaller employers need not pay, though they still cannot fire you for serving.
How much is New York jury duty pay from an employer?
$72 a day for the first three days, from employers with more than 10 employees. The figure rose from $40 to $72 effective June 8, 2025.
Can I be fired for jury duty in New York?
No. Section 519 bars discharge or penalty for absence due to jury service, with pre-service notice, and a violation can be criminal contempt.
What happens after the first three days of jury duty in New York?
The employer’s pay duty ends after three days. Beyond that, you collect the court’s juror fee rather than employer wages.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.