Jury Duty Pay in Washington

About Jury Duty in Washington

Washington allows $10-$25 per day under RCW 2.36.150; most counties pay the $10 minimum — a rate unchanged since 1959. In a state with one of the highest costs of living (especially Seattle/King County), the rate has drawn sharp criticism. The Washington Supreme Court Minority and Justice Commission drove a Seattle University survey finding that low pay caused underrepresentation. A Pierce County $100/day pilot ran October 2024 through May 2025.

How Jury Pay Works

Washington allows $10-$25/day regardless of trial length. Mileage reimbursement follows the state rate. King County (Seattle) reimburses transit fares (train, light rail, bus, ferry, water taxi) but does not provide ORCA passes. Washington is a “one day or one trial” state.

The 2024 Supreme Court Task Force

A 2024 Washington Supreme Court task force — building on work by the Minority and Justice Commission — issued a forceful report calling the $10/day rate “a barrier to representative juries” and recommending an immediate increase. The task force found that low juror pay disproportionately excluded low-income residents, people of color, and hourly workers from jury service.

King County and the Tech Economy

King County is home to Amazon, Microsoft, and a thriving tech economy where median incomes are among the highest in the nation. The $10/day rate creates a stark divide: tech employees with employer-provided jury leave serve without financial worry, while service workers, artists, and gig workers face genuine hardship. This dynamic is familiar from California’s two-tier reality, but Washington’s rate is even lower.

Employer Obligations

Washington employers are not required to pay wages during jury service but cannot penalize or fire employees who serve. Many large Seattle-area employers (Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks) continue full salary voluntarily — the same pattern seen among Silicon Valley companies in California. Workers at smaller businesses and in the service sector have no such protection.

How Washington Compares

Washington’s $10-$25/day range equals Oregon’s starting rate. Neighboring Oregon also has a low rate. The Pacific Northwest, despite its progressive reputation, has some of the lowest juror pay in the country — a paradox that reform advocates continue to challenge. Federal jurors in Washington’s two districts (Western and Eastern) receive $50/day, five times the state minimum and a vivid illustration of how state and federal systems differ even within the same region.

Statute: Wash. Rev. Code § 2.36.150 — Official source