How Maryland paycheck taxes work
- Maryland income tax: rates from 2% to 6.5% for 2026.
- Before tax, Maryland subtracts a standard deduction of $3,350 single and $6,700 married filing jointly and a personal exemption of $3,200 ($6,400 for a married couple).
- Every Maryland county and Baltimore City adds a local income tax on top of the state rate. Enter your county's rate in Local tax %; it's applied to Maryland taxable income.
- Maryland's $3,200 exemption is cut in steps above $100,000 of income ($150,000 married) and is gone above $150,000 ($200,000 married).
Maryland income tax rates for 2026
| Rate | Single | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 2% | $0 – $1,000 | $0 – $1,000 |
| 3% | $1,000 – $2,000 | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| 4% | $2,000 – $3,000 | $2,000 – $3,000 |
| 4.75% | $3,000 – $100,000 | $3,000 – $150,000 |
| 5% | $100,000 – $125,000 | $150,000 – $175,000 |
| 5.25% | $125,000 – $150,000 | $175,000 – $225,000 |
| 5.5% | $150,000 – $250,000 | $225,000 – $300,000 |
| 5.75% | $250,000 – $500,000 | $300,000 – $600,000 |
| 6.25% | $500,000 – $1,000,000 | $600,000 – $1,200,000 |
| 6.5% | over $1,000,000 | over $1,200,000 |
How your take-home pay is calculated
Take-home = Gross pay − 401(k) − health − HSA − federal income tax − Social Security − Medicare − Maryland income tax − local tax
Federal income tax uses the 2026 brackets and standard deduction. Social Security is 6.2% of pay up to $184,500 a year; Medicare is 1.45% of all pay plus 0.9% above $200,000. Pre-tax health and HSA payroll deductions lower all of these; 401(k) lowers income tax only.
Maryland take-home pay examples
Single filer, paid every two weeks, no 401(k) or other pre-tax deductions, no local tax:
| Salary | Federal tax | Social Security + Medicare | State income tax | Take-home a year | Per biweekly check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $3,820.00 | $3,825.00 | $2,011.38 | $40,343.63 | $1,551.68 |
| $75,000 | $7,670.00 | $5,737.50 | $3,198.88 | $58,393.63 | $2,245.91 |
| $100,000 | $13,170.00 | $7,650.00 | $4,386.38 | $74,793.63 | $2,876.68 |
Worked example, $75,000 salary:
- Federal: $75,000 − $16,100 standard deduction = $58,900 taxable. Tax = $1,240 + $4,560 + 22% × $8,500 = $7,670.00.
- Social Security 6.2% = $4,650.00. Medicare 1.45% = $1,087.50.
- Maryland taxable income $68,450.00, Maryland income tax $3,198.88.
- Take-home: $58,393.63 a year, or $2,245.91 every two weeks. That's 22.1% of pay in taxes.
What this calculator simplifies
- Tax is worked out for the whole year and spread evenly over your paychecks. Employers use withholding tables, so a real check can differ by a few dollars; you settle the difference when you file.
- Federal tax uses the 2026 standard deduction only. Dependents, itemized deductions and the new tips, overtime and senior deductions aren't included (W-4 Step 3 credits can be entered under More options).
- State tax covers a typical W-2 employee who lives and works in the state. State credits for dependents, renters, earned income and similar aren't included.
- Head of household and married filing separately use Maryland's single amounts.
Compare states on the paycheck calculator by state, or see federal tax bracket by bracket in the income tax calculator.
Sources
- Tax Foundation: State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets, 2026
- IRS IR-2025-103: 2026 tax inflation adjustments
- SSA contribution and benefit base ($184,500 for 2026)
- IRS Topic 560, Additional Medicare Tax
State figures: 2026. Last reviewed October 2026.