States
Jury duty in Washington: pay, employer rules and excuses
Independent site, not a court. Answer your summons and ask for an excuse only through the court that summoned you.
Check your Washington county's juror fee, set between $10 and $25, the excuse for people 80 and older, and the coming breastfeeding exemption.
What jury duty in Washington will pay you
You receive for 3 days
$30
| Court fee (state minimum) | $30 |
| Employer, by law | No duty to keep paying wages under this law |
| A normal 3 days of work | $600 |
| Income lost | $570 |
| Age rule | 80 and over, may ask to be excused |
Washington: Each county sets a uniform daily fee between $10 and $25; most counties pay $10. Mileage is paid on top. Before tax. Employers must grant leave but are not required to pay wages during jury service.
All jury rules in WashingtonWashington lets each county set a uniform daily juror fee between $10 and $25 under RCW 2.36.150, and most counties pay $10, so treat $10 as the common floor; mileage at the state rate is paid on top for each day of attendance. Employers must grant leave for jury service but are not required to pay wages (RCW 2.36.165). People 80 or older who attest they cannot serve for health reasons must be excused on request, with no doctor's note required (RCW 2.36.100(2)). Each court sets its own terms; state policy says a term should ideally be one week or less, and service one day or one trial, whichever is longer. If you are summoned again within 12 months after serving at least one week in that period, you may ask in writing to be excused. To reschedule, call or write to the contact on the summons. Intentionally failing to appear is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine (RCW 2.36.170 and RCW 9.92.030).
Statutes and court pages read by Radif Partners on October 29, 2026 · Method and sources
A misdemeanor for skipping Washington jury duty
Washington treats an intentional failure to appear more seriously than many states. Rather than a civil fine, it is a misdemeanor under RCW 2.36.170, which carries the general misdemeanor penalty of up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. That makes responding to the summons, or asking for a new date, the only sensible course. The court named on the summons can reassign an excused juror to another term within 12 months, so rescheduling is generally available.
Washington grounds for excusal, including a 2027 change
Washington courts may excuse a juror for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity, illness or any reason the court deems sufficient. People 80 or older who attest that health prevents them from serving must be excused without a doctor's note. A new breastfeeding exemption, for a parent of an infant under 24 months, is added to RCW 2.36.100 from January 1, 2027. Before then, a breastfeeding parent can still raise hardship or inconvenience. Ask the court on the summons, and note that the fee varies by county within the $10 to $25 band.
The rules in Washington, law by law
| Rule | What the law or court says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Juror pay | $10 a day (minimum) | RCW 2.36.150 |
| Mileage | Mileage at the state rate set under RCW 43.03.060, each day of attendance | RCW 2.36.150 |
| Employer must keep paying | No | RCW 2.36.165 |
| Job protected | Yes | RCW 2.36.165 |
| Age | 80 and over: may ask to be excused | RCW 2.36.100(2) |
| Length of service | Each court sets its own jury terms; state policy says a term should ideally be one week or less and service one day or one trial, whichever is longer. | app.leg.wa.gov |
| Before another summons | 12 months | app.leg.wa.gov |
| Postponing | Call or write to the number/address on the summons to reschedule; an excused juror may be reassigned to another term within 12 months. | courts.wa.gov |
| Not showing up | Intentionally failing to appear is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine (general misdemeanor penalty, RCW 9.92.030). | RCW 2.36.170; RCW 9.92.030 |
Excuses and postponement in Washington
Ask the court named on the summons. A breastfeeding exemption (infant under 24 months) is added to RCW 2.36.100 from January 1, 2027. Call or write to the number/address on the summons to reschedule; an excused juror may be reassigned to another term within 12 months.
Can I be excused or postpone?
Washington
No ground named: ask to postpone
| Age rule | 80+, on request |
Ask the court named on the summons. A breastfeeding exemption (infant under 24 months) is added to RCW 2.36.100 from January 1, 2027. Call or write to the number/address on the summons to reschedule; an excused juror may be reassigned to another term within 12 months.
A request is decided by the court, often with proof (a doctor's note, a school schedule). Ignoring a summons is not an excuse.
Official juror page: courts.wa.gov. Answer your summons and file any request there or as your summons says.