Maine Paycheck Calculator

How to estimate your Maine take-home pay in 2026

Maine uses a progressive state income tax with rates from 5.8% to 7.15%, along with a state standard deduction and personal exemption. This calculator estimates your 2026 net pay after federal withholding, FICA payroll taxes, and Maine state tax so you can plan monthly expenses and compare job offers with confidence.

Enter your annual salary or build it from hourly wages using our gross pay calculator. If you receive 26 paychecks per year, the biweekly pay calculator shows how gross and net amounts spread across the calendar. For federal tax details and dependent credits, see the income tax calculator and salary calculator.

What gets deducted from a Maine paycheck

A typical Maine W-2 paycheck includes three layers of mandatory withholding plus any voluntary deductions you elect through your employer:

• Federal income tax: Calculated from 2026 IRS brackets, your W-4 filing status, and qualifying child tax credits.
• FICA taxes: Social Security at 6.2% (capped at the 2026 wage base of $184,500) and Medicare at 1.45%, with an additional 0.9% on wages above $200,000 for single filers. Use our FICA tax calculator to isolate these amounts.
• Maine state income tax: Progressive rates of 5.8%, 6.75%, and 7.15% applied to Maine taxable income after state deductions and exemptions.

Maine does not levy a separate state disability insurance tax. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions and HSA deposits reduce gross wages before Maine taxable income is calculated, lowering overall withholding.

How Maine state tax is calculated

Maine taxable income starts with gross wages after pre-tax deductions, then subtracts the Maine standard deduction and personal exemption:

For 2026, Maine standard deductions are $15,300 (single), $30,600 (married filing jointly), and $22,950 (head of household). Personal exemptions are $5,300 (single), $10,600 (joint), and $5,300 (head of household). State tax then applies within these brackets for single filers:

• $0 to $27,400: 5.8%
• $27,400 to $64,850: 6.75%
• Over $64,850: 7.15%

Maine taxable income in this calculator

Maine taxable income is based on gross wages after pre-tax 401(k) and HSA contributions, not on federally taxable wages. This means Maine applies its own standard deduction and personal exemption on top of pre-tax retirement savings, similar to Minnesota and Kansas.

Worked example: $65,000 salary, single, biweekly, 5% 401(k)

Consider a single Maine employee earning $65,000 per year, paid biweekly, contributing 5% to a traditional 401(k), with no dependents or health premium deductions:

1. Pre-tax 401(k): $65,000 x 5% = $3,250 per year
2. Gross after pre-tax: $65,000 - $3,250 = $61,750
3. Maine taxable income: $61,750 - $15,300 (standard deduction) - $5,300 (personal exemption) = $41,150
4. Maine state tax: 5.8% on $27,400 ($1,589) plus 6.75% on $13,750 ($928) = $2,517 per year
5. FICA: Social Security and Medicare on the full $65,000 gross (401(k) does not reduce FICA wages)
6. Estimated net per paycheck: About $1,885.78 biweekly after all withholdings

If you expect a performance bonus on top of base salary, estimate the gross amount with our bonus calculator and add it to your annual salary before running this tool.

Maine vs. neighboring state tax burdens

Maine sits in New England with varied tax policies. Compare your salary against Massachusetts (5% flat rate plus surtax), Connecticut (progressive rates), and Delaware. Running the same inputs through each state calculator reveals how relocation affects your monthly budget.

Frequently asked questions