Jury Duty Pay in Wisconsin

About Jury Duty in Wisconsin

Wisconsin pays jurors $16 per day — another oddly specific rate in a Midwest full of them. The state’s most distinctive jury feature isn’t the pay but the infrastructure: Milwaukee County jurors navigate a skywalk-connected court complex that means they never step outside during harsh Wisconsin winters.

How Jury Pay Works

Wisconsin uses a flat $16/day rate for all jurors. Mileage reimbursement follows the state rate, and Milwaukee County provides bus passes for jurors using public transit. Wisconsin is a “one day or one trial” state. The $16/day rate, like Michigan’s $12.50 half-day rate, suggests a specific but long-forgotten legislative compromise.

Milwaukee’s Skywalk System

Milwaukee County operates one of the nation’s most juror-friendly courthouse complexes in one respect: the downtown courthouse is connected to the city’s skywalk system, meaning jurors can park in a connected ramp, walk indoors to the courthouse, eat lunch in the food court, and return — all without going outside. During January cold snaps (when temperatures routinely dip below 0°F), this is a significant practical benefit.

The skywalk system is a contrast with warmer-climate states like Arizona, where jurors face the opposite problem — 110°F walks across uncovered parking lots — but with similarly climate-adapted solutions.

Employer Obligations

Wisconsin employers are not required to pay wages during jury service, though they cannot penalize employees who serve. Major Wisconsin employers — particularly in manufacturing (Harley-Davidson, Johnson Controls, Kohler) and insurance (Northwestern Mutual, American Family) — often continue salary voluntarily. The state’s strong union tradition means some collective bargaining agreements include jury duty pay provisions.

Rural vs. Urban

Wisconsin’s jury experience varies dramatically by location. Milwaukee County handles massive volume; Dane County (Madison) has a smaller, university-influenced pool; and rural northern counties like Vilas or Iron may hold jury trials only occasionally. In small counties, being summoned is rarer but more disruptive — trials are infrequent enough that each one depends on a handful of jurors.

How Wisconsin Compares

Wisconsin’s $16/day sits between Michigan’s $25/$45 and Ohio’s $10/day in the Midwest range. It’s low by national standards and dramatically below New York’s $72/day and Illinois’s $25/$50. The Midwest pattern of sub-$25 starting rates reflects a regional reluctance to fund jury compensation that shows little sign of changing. Federal jurors in Wisconsin’s two districts receive $50/day — triple the state rate — a gap that is especially noticeable in Milwaukee, where the federal and state courthouses stand just a few blocks apart.

Statute: Wis. Stat. § 756.07 — Official source