A single Maryland worker earning $75,000 takes home about $55,885 a year — roughly $2,149 per biweekly paycheck — in 2026, using an average ~3.0% county rate. Maryland combines a state income tax (2%–5.75%, about $3,535 here) with a mandatory county income tax of 2.25%–3.20% (about $2,172). Federal income tax (~$7,670) and FICA (~$5,738) make up the rest, for an effective rate near 25.5%.
This Maryland paycheck calculator 2026 shows your MD take-home pay under the state graduated income tax plus the county/local income tax, the 2026 federal brackets, and FICA. Enter your gross pay below for a full hourly-or-salary breakdown. This Maryland net pay calculator makes your 2026 take-home easy to estimate.
This Maryland paycheck calculator 2026 annualizes your pay, applies Maryland's state graduated income tax and the local county income tax, then layers on 2026 federal income tax and 7.65% FICA before dividing to your pay frequency. According to the Comptroller of Maryland, Maryland combines a state income tax (graduated, topping out at 5.75%) with a mandatory county/local income tax that ranges from 2.25% to 3.20% in 2026 depending on where you live — one of the few states where a local income tax applies statewide.
| Deduction | Rate / basis (2026) | On $75,000 salary |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland state income tax | 2%–5.75% graduated | ~$3,535 |
| Maryland county income tax (avg ~3.0%) | 2.25%–3.20% by county | ~$2,172 |
| Federal income tax (single) | 2026 brackets | $7,670 |
| FICA | 7.65% | $5,738 |
| Net take-home | ~$55,885 |
A single Marylander earning $75,000 takes home about $55,885 a year, or roughly $2,149 per biweekly paycheck in 2026 (using an average ~3.0% county rate) — an effective tax rate near 25.5%.
Maryland's state income tax is graduated, but the brackets rise quickly so most full-time workers reach the higher rates. The state brackets used by the Maryland paycheck calculator 2026 are (single filers):
| Maryland taxable income | 2026 state rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $1,000 | 2% |
| $1,000 – $2,000 | 3% |
| $2,000 – $3,000 | 4% |
| $3,000 – $100,000 | 4.75% |
| $100,000 – $250,000 | 5%–5.25% |
| Over $250,000 | 5.5%–5.75% |
Maryland is unusual: every county and Baltimore City levies a local income tax that is collected with the state tax. According to the Comptroller of Maryland's 2026 Withholding Tax Facts, county rates range from 2.25% to 3.20%. For example, Baltimore City, Howard, and Montgomery counties are at the high end (~3.2%), while a handful of counties sit near 2.25%–2.4%. This local tax is a major part of every Maryland paycheck. The calculator uses an average ~3.0% county rate; substitute your county's rate for an exact figure.
Hourly workers can switch the pay type to "Hourly" and enter their rate and weekly hours. The Maryland paycheck calculator annualizes (rate × hours × 52), applies the state graduated tax plus an average county rate, federal, and FICA, then divides to your pay frequency. A $25/hour full-time Maryland worker ($52,000/year) nets roughly $40,200 a year after all taxes including local tax.
Federal income tax uses the 2026 brackets and the $16,100 single / $32,200 joint standard deduction. FICA is 7.65% — 6.2% Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base (per the SSA), plus 1.45% Medicare and 0.9% additional Medicare over $200,000. These apply identically in every state; only Maryland's state plus county income tax is state-specific.
| Annual salary | Approx. MD net (single, avg county) | Per biweekly check |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | ~$38,500 | ~$1,481 |
| $75,000 | ~$55,885 | ~$2,149 |
| $100,000 | ~$71,200 | ~$2,738 |
| $150,000 | ~$101,400 | ~$3,900 |
Figures assume the single federal standard deduction, the 2026 federal brackets, standard FICA, Maryland's graduated state rates, and an average ~3.0% county rate. Your exact county rate will move these numbers.
Two fully worked 2026 examples for a single Maryland filer using an average county rate:
| Item | Salary ($75,000/yr) | Hourly ($25/hr, 40 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Annualized gross | $75,000 | $52,000 |
| MD state income tax | ~$3,535 | ~$2,440 |
| MD county tax (~3.0%) | ~$2,172 | ~$1,479 |
| Federal income tax | $7,670 | $4,060 |
| FICA (7.65%) | $5,738 | $3,978 |
| Net per year | ~$55,885 | ~$40,043 |
| State | State+local income tax on $75,000 | Approx. net |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia (2%–5.75%, no local) | ~$3,566 | ~$58,026 |
| Pennsylvania (3.07% + ~1% local) | ~$3,053 | ~$58,540 |
| Maryland (state + ~3.0% county) | ~$5,707 | ~$55,885 |
| Washington DC (graduated) | ~$4,900 | ~$56,690 |
Maryland's combined state-plus-county income tax makes it one of the heavier-taxed states in the Mid-Atlantic, primarily because of the statewide local income tax that Virginia and most other states do not have.
Maryland employees complete Form MW507 to set state and county withholding exemptions, alongside the federal W-4. Your county of residence determines your local rate. Accurate MW507 elections help you avoid a large refund or balance due, especially because the combined state-plus-county rate is significant. The calculator uses an average county rate; your MW507 county sets the exact amount.
Self-employed Marylanders owe the state graduated tax plus county tax on net business income, plus federal self-employment tax (15.3%) and federal income tax. Because no employer withholds, you generally pay through quarterly estimates. This calculator is built for employees; self-employed filers should budget for quarterly state, county, and federal payments.
For the most accurate result, enter gross pay and frequency from a recent pay stub, filing status from your latest return, and pre-tax deductions from your benefits enrollment — and use your specific county rate. The county tax and pre-tax contributions can shift your Maryland take-home by hundreds or thousands a year. The calculator uses verified 2026 federal brackets, the $184,500 Social Security wage base, Maryland's graduated state rates, and an average county rate.
Maryland updates its county rates and brackets, and federal figures change yearly. This page uses the 2026 federal standard deductions ($16,100/$32,200), the 2026 bracket thresholds, the $184,500 SS wage base, Maryland's graduated state rates, and 2026 county rates (2.25%–3.20%), keeping your estimate current.
A Maryland pay stub lists several distinct deductions, and knowing what each one means helps you verify your paycheck is correct. The largest lines are typically federal income tax withholding (based on your W-4 and the 2026 brackets), Social Security (6.2% up to the $184,500 wage base), and Medicare (1.45% on all wages). The state line reflects Maryland's state rates plus the statewide county income tax. Below those, you may see voluntary pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) or 403(b) retirement contributions, health, dental, and vision insurance premiums, and HSA or FSA contributions — each of which lowers your taxable wages and therefore your tax. Post-tax deductions such as Roth 401(k) contributions, life insurance, and garnishments reduce your net pay without lowering taxable income. This maryland paycheck calculator 2026 estimates the mandatory tax lines; your actual stub also reflects your specific benefit elections.
Your annual Maryland take-home does not change with pay frequency, but the size of each check does. A single Maryland worker earning $75,000 nets about $55,885 a year, which works out to different per-check amounts depending on how often you are paid:
| Pay frequency | Paychecks per year | Approx. MD net per check ($75k) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | ~$1,075 |
| Biweekly | 26 | ~$2,149 |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | ~$2,329 |
| Monthly | 12 | ~$4,657 |
Biweekly pay (every two weeks) produces 26 checks and two "extra" paychecks a year compared with semi-monthly pay, which many Maryland workers use to fund savings or pay down debt. The calculator above lets you switch pay frequency to match your employer.
The most powerful way to increase your effective Maryland take-home is to use pre-tax accounts, because every dollar contributed avoids federal income tax, MD state income tax, and (for some accounts) FICA. For 2026, the IRS allows up to $24,500 in 401(k) employee contributions (plus catch-up if you are 50 or older), and up to $4,400 in an HSA for self-only coverage. A Maryland worker who contributes $10,000 to a 401(k) reduces taxable wages by $10,000, cutting federal tax in the 22% bracket by about $2,200 and MD tax by the applicable state rate — meaning the true "cost" of saving $10,000 is far less than $10,000 of take-home. Health insurance premiums and HSA contributions made through a cafeteria plan also avoid FICA, adding another 7.65% in savings. These are the highest-leverage moves for any Maryland taxpayer focused on net pay.
It is important to distinguish your effective rate from your marginal rate. On $75,000, a single Maryland filer has an effective (average) total tax rate near 25.5% — that is total federal, state, and FICA tax divided by gross pay. The marginal rate — the tax on your next dollar earned — is higher, because it combines the 22% federal bracket, the MD state marginal rate, and 7.65% FICA. Understanding this difference matters when you evaluate a raise, overtime, or a bonus: only the additional income is taxed at the marginal rate, not your whole paycheck. A common misconception is that earning more can leave you worse off; in the U.S. progressive system that essentially never happens, because only the income within each bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate.
Once you know your Maryland net pay, a simple framework helps you allocate it. A widely cited guideline is the 50/30/20 rule: about 50% of take-home for needs (housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance), 30% for wants, and 20% for savings and debt repayment. For a Maryland worker netting $55,885 a year (~$2,149 biweekly), that implies roughly $27,942 a year for needs, $16,766 for wants, and $11,177 for savings. Because Maryland take-home reflects Maryland's state rates plus the statewide county income tax, knowing your exact net — rather than your gross salary — is the right starting point for any budget. Use the calculator to model how a raise, a move to a different pay frequency, or higher 401(k) contributions would change the dollars you actually have to work with.
Several avoidable errors cost Maryland workers money each year. First, leaving your W-4 unchanged after a major life event (marriage, a new child, a second job) can cause large over- or under-withholding. Second, not enrolling in an employer 401(k) match leaves free money on the table — a match is an immediate, guaranteed return. Third, ignoring pre-tax health and HSA options means paying more MD state and federal tax than necessary. Fourth, assuming a bonus is taxed at a higher permanent rate — in reality the 22% federal supplemental withholding on bonuses is just withholding, and any over-withholding is refunded when you file. Reviewing your pay stub each pay period and re-running this maryland paycheck calculator 2026 after any change keeps your Maryland take-home accurate and optimized.
Maryland combines a state income tax (graduated from 2% to 5.75%) with a mandatory county income tax ranging from 2.25% to 3.20% for 2026, according to the Comptroller of Maryland. Together they can exceed 8% at the margin.
About $55,885 a year for a single filer in 2026 using an average ~3.0% county rate, or roughly $2,149 per biweekly paycheck. That reflects about $3,535 state tax, $2,172 county tax, $7,670 federal tax, and $5,738 FICA, for an effective rate near 25.5%.
Yes. Maryland is one of the few states where every county and Baltimore City levies a local income tax, ranging from 2.25% to 3.20% for 2026. It is collected with the state income tax and is a major part of every Maryland paycheck.
For 2026, counties such as Baltimore City, Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George's are at the high end near 3.2%, while a few counties sit closer to 2.25%-2.4%. Your county of residence determines your local rate.
Federal tax does not depend on your state. On $75,000 a single filer owes about $7,670 in 2026 federal income tax after the $16,100 standard deduction, plus $5,738 FICA. Only the Maryland state and county taxes are state-specific.
Maryland take-home is lower mainly because of its statewide county income tax (2.25%-3.20%), which Virginia does not have. On $75,000, that local tax alone subtracts about $2,000-$2,400 that a Virginia worker would keep.