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Maryland Paycheck Calculator (2026)

Estimate your Maryland take-home pay after federal tax, FICA, and MD state income tax. Every Maryland county also charges its own mandatory income tax, not included here.

How this calculator works

Like our other paycheck calculators, this estimates federal tax and FICA the same way regardless of state. On top of that, it applies Maryland’s own ten-bracket state income tax schedule to your wages after subtracting Maryland’s flat standard deduction and its income-phased personal exemption. Maryland’s tax base follows your total wages the same way federal tax does, so 401(k) contributions reduce it the same way they reduce your federal taxable wages.

This calculator does not include Maryland county income tax, and that is a significant gap. Every Maryland county, plus Baltimore City, charges its own mandatory income tax on residents, with no county exempt. Unlike some states where local tax only applies in certain cities, every single Maryland taxpayer owes some county rate, ranging from 2.25% to 3.30% for 2026, on top of the state tax shown here. Maryland employers withhold county tax right alongside state tax in the same paycheck, using the same Maryland taxable income base this calculator computes. See the FAQ below for exactly where to look your county’s rate up.

The formula

(federal tax, FICA, and net-pay assembly are identical to the Texas calculator)

mdExemption      = $3,200 x (1 for single, 2 for joint), phased down and eliminated
                 above $150,000 wages (single) or $200,000 wages (joint)
mdStdDeduction   = $3,400 (single) or $6,800 (joint), flat, no income phase-in
mdTaxableIncome  = max(0, wagesAfterPretax - mdStdDeduction - mdExemption)

stateTax = 2026 MD bracket schedule applied to mdTaxableIncome
         (2% / 3% / 4% / 4.75% / 5% / 5.25% / 5.5% / 5.75% / 6.25% / 6.5%,
          thresholds differ by filing status)

(Maryland county income tax is NOT included in stateTax -- see "How this calculator works" above)

Worked example

A single filer earning $60,000/year, paid biweekly, with no 401(k) or extra deductions:

  • FICA: $4,590.00/year (same as any state)
  • Federal tax: $5,020.00/year (same as any state)
  • Maryland standard deduction: $3,400. Personal exemption: $3,200 (wages are well under the $150,000 phase-out start).
  • Maryland taxable income: $60,000 − $3,400 − $3,200 = $53,400
  • Maryland state income tax: $90.00 + 4.75% × ($53,400 − $3,000) = $90.00 + $2,394.00 = $2,484.00/year
  • Net pay: $60,000 − $4,590.00 − $5,020.00 − $2,484.00 = $47,906.00/year, or $1,842.54 per biweekly paycheck, before any Maryland county income tax

That last line matters just as much as the math above it. If this filer lived in Worcester County, Maryland’s lowest 2026 rate at 2.25%, they would owe roughly another $1,202/year on top of this figure (2.25% × $53,400 taxable income). In Baltimore City or Montgomery County, at 3.20%, roughly another $1,709/year. In Dorchester or Kent County, the state’s highest at 3.30%, roughly another $1,762/year. Same salary, same state tax, meaningfully different total tax bill, purely based on county of residence.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Does this calculator include my Maryland county income tax?

No, and this matters more in Maryland than in most states. Every Maryland county, plus Baltimore City, charges its own mandatory income tax on residents, with no exceptions. For 2026 those rates run from 2.25% to 3.30% on top of the state tax shown here. See the next question for where to look up your own rate.

What county income tax rate do I actually owe, and where do I look it up?

Your rate depends on your county of residence. For 2026, rates range from 2.25% in Worcester County up to 3.30% in Dorchester and Kent Counties, with most counties around 3.20%. Maryland's Comptroller publishes the full county rate table in its annual Withholding Tax Facts guide, linked in Sources below. County tax applies to the same Maryland taxable income this calculator computes, not your gross wages.

What are Maryland's 2026 state income tax brackets?

Ten brackets from 2% to 6.5%. The 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act capped the old top 5.75% bracket and added two new brackets for high earners: 6.25% and 6.5%, both starting above $500,000 (single) or $600,000 (joint) taxable income. Every bracket threshold roughly doubles for joint filers compared to single filers.

Does Maryland have a standard deduction and personal exemption, and how do they work?

Yes, both. For 2026 the standard deduction is a flat $3,400 for single filers and $6,800 for joint filers, no longer tied to a percentage of income. The personal exemption is $3,200 per person (you, plus your spouse if filing jointly), but it phases down and disappears entirely once your income passes $150,000 (single) or $200,000 (joint).

Is Maryland's new Paid Family and Medical Leave (FAMLI) tax taken out of my paycheck yet?

No, not in 2026. Maryland's FAMLI program has been delayed multiple times by the state legislature. Per the Maryland Department of Labor, payroll contributions do not begin until January 1, 2027, and benefits do not become available until January 2028. Nothing is withheld for FAMLI from any Maryland paycheck issued during 2026.

Does contributing to a 401(k) lower my Maryland state tax the way it lowers my federal tax?

Yes. Maryland's withholding formula starts from your total wages the same way your federal taxable wages already exclude 401(k) elective deferrals, so contributing to a 401(k) lowers your Maryland taxable income the same way it lowers your federal taxable income. This is the opposite of Pennsylvania, which taxes 401(k) contributions when you make them.

Sources