Jury Duty Pay in Tennessee

About Jury Duty in Tennessee

Tennessee is a paradox: the state pays just $10 per day — fourth-lowest in the nation — but employers must continue regular wages during jury service for employees with at least six months of tenure. This creates one of the sharpest divides in the country between protected workers and everyone else.

How Jury Pay Works

Tennessee’s state rate is a flat $10/day for all jurors. Mileage reimbursement typically follows the federal GSA rate. The state is a “one day or one trial” jurisdiction. The $10/day rate is, on its own, among the lowest in the country — tied with Ohio and Washington.

The Employer Mandate: A Double-Edged Sword

Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-4-106, employers must pay regular wages during jury service — but only for employees who have worked at the same employer for at least six months. This six-month tenure requirement creates a sharp divide:

• Protected: Full-time workers with 6+ months at the same job receive full pay during jury service. For these jurors, the $10/day state rate is a small supplement.
• Unprotected: Gig workers, independent contractors, new hires (under 6 months), and the self-employed receive only the $10/day state rate. A one-week trial pays just $50 — less than a single shift at minimum wage.

This dynamic is notably different from Massachusetts, where the employer mandate applies regardless of tenure, and from New York, where the employer mandate covers days 1-3 for all employees at businesses with 11+ workers.

Geographic Variation

Tennessee’s three grand divisions — East, Middle, and West — each have distinct jury systems. Shelby County (Memphis) and Davidson County (Nashville) are the largest operations. Rural counties in East Tennessee may summon only a few hundred jurors per year, making jury pools less representative and individual exemptions more impactful.

How Tennessee Compares

Tennessee’s combination of a very low state rate with a broad (but not universal) employer mandate is unusual. Colorado pairs a high $50/day state rate with mandated employer pay, and Georgia has a high $50/day rate with no employer mandate but strong leave protections. Tennessee’s model protects the majority of workers but leaves a significant minority — particularly the most economically vulnerable — with almost no compensation for jury service. A one-week trial for an unprotected worker pays just $50 total, less than a single day’s wages at the state’s minimum wage.

Statute: Tenn. Code Ann. § 22-4-106 — Official source