Maryland Paycheck Calculator

How to estimate your Maryland take-home pay in 2026

Maryland uses a progressive state income tax with rates from 2% to 6.5%, along with a state standard deduction and personal exemption. This calculator estimates your 2026 net pay after federal withholding, FICA payroll taxes, and Maryland 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 Maryland paycheck

A typical Maryland 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.
• Maryland state income tax: Progressive rates from 2% to 6.5% applied to Maryland taxable income after state deductions and exemptions.

Maryland counties levy local income taxes on top of state withholding, but this calculator models state-level tax only. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions and HSA deposits reduce gross wages before Maryland taxable income is calculated.

How Maryland state tax is calculated

Maryland taxable income starts with gross wages after pre-tax 401(k) contributions, then subtracts the Maryland standard deduction and personal exemption:

For 2026, Maryland standard deductions are $3,350 (single), $6,700 (married filing jointly), and $3,350 (head of household). Personal exemptions are $3,200 (single), $6,400 (joint), and $3,200 (head of household). State tax then applies within brackets ranging from 2% on the first $1,000 to 6.5% on income above $300,000 for single filers.

Maryland taxable income in this calculator

Maryland taxable income is based on gross salary minus pre-tax 401(k) contributions and state deductions, not on federally taxable wages. At a $65,000 salary with 5% 401(k), most earners fall in the 4.75% bracket, which covers income from $3,000 to $100,000 for single filers.

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

Consider a single Maryland 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. Maryland taxable income: $65,000 - $3,250 - $3,350 (standard deduction) - $3,200 (personal exemption) = $55,200
3. Maryland state tax: $90 base plus 4.75% on $52,200 = $2,569.50 per year
4. FICA: Social Security and Medicare on the full $65,000 gross (401(k) does not reduce FICA wages)
5. Estimated net per paycheck: About $1,883.77 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.

Maryland vs. neighboring state tax burdens

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

Frequently asked questions