Jury Duty Pay in Ohio

About Jury Duty in Ohio

Ohio has no uniform statewide jury pay rate — the law (ORC § 2313.22) delegates rate-setting to each county board, with rates typically ranging from $10 to $30 per day. Ohio uses a term-based jury system, not the “one day or one trial” approach used by most states. Rates increase to at least $15/day or 1.5× the base after 10 days of service.

How Jury Pay Works

Each of Ohio’s 88 counties sets its own juror compensation. Most counties pay $10–$30/day. Mileage reimbursement varies by county with no uniform state rate. The term-based system means jurors are typically on-call for 1–6 months (varying by county: Clermont uses 1 week, Miami 1 month, Highland 3 months, Lawrence 6 months), rather than the “one day or one trial” model used by most other states.

Employer Obligations

Ohio employers are not required to pay wages during jury service. They cannot fire or penalize employees for serving, but there is no statutory duty to continue compensation. This is the same framework as Michigan and Pennsylvania — a common Midwest pattern of minimal employer obligations.

County-Level Variation

Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) provides RTA transit passes and has discussed using county funds to supplement pay. Franklin County (Columbus) and Hamilton County (Cincinnati) have also explored local improvements. The county-delegated system means a juror’s experience — both pay and service structure — depends entirely on their county of residence.

The Representativeness Problem

At $10–$30/day, jury service in Ohio effectively excludes anyone who can’t afford a pay cut. A minimum-wage worker in Ohio earns $10.70/hour (2026) — potentially more in an hour than the state pays for a full day of jury service. This creates a jury pool skewed toward retirees, government employees with paid leave, and higher-income professionals.

How Ohio Compares

Ohio’s county-set rates are among the lowest in the country. Neighboring Pennsylvania pays $9/$25 and Michigan pays $25/$45. Federal jurors in Ohio’s two districts receive $50/day. The disparity is especially pronounced in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, where state and federal courthouses operate within blocks of each other. The term-based system (rather than “one day or one trial”) adds an additional burden most other states have eliminated.

Statute: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2313.22 — Official source