Maryland Paycheck Calculator 2026
This calculator estimates your take-home pay as a Maryland worker after federal income tax, FICA, and Maryland's 10-bracket graduated income tax (rates from 2.00% to 6.50%). This includes a surtax on income above $1,000,000. Enter your salary, pay frequency, and filing status below.
Maryland Income Tax Brackets 2026
The rates below apply to taxable income after subtracting Maryland's standard deduction of $2,600 (single) or $5,150 (MFJ).
| Taxable Income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 - $1,000 | 2.00% |
| $1,000 - $2,000 | 3.00% |
| $2,000 - $3,000 | 4.00% |
| $3,000 - $100,000 | 4.75% |
| $100,000 - $125,000 | 5.00% |
| $125,000 - $150,000 | 5.25% |
| $150,000 - $250,000 | 5.50% |
| $250,000 - $500,000 | 5.75% |
| $500,000 - $1,000,000 | 6.25% |
| Over $1,000,000 | 6.50% |
Source: Maryland Tax Authority
The state sales tax is 6.00% (6.00% combined average with local additions), a relatively low combined rate. Mandatory county income taxes add an additional layer of withholding. Retirees may benefit from partial pension income exclusions.
Millionaire Surtax in Maryland
Maryland imposes an additional surtax on taxable income exceeding $1,000,000. This means high earners face a combined top rate that is among the highest in the nation. The surtax applies to all filing statuses.
How Your Maryland Paycheck Is Calculated
- Gross pay: Your annual salary divided by the number of pay periods.
- Federal income tax: 2026 progressive brackets (10%-37%) after the federal standard deduction of $16,100 (single) or $32,200 (MFJ).
- Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to $184,500.
- Medicare: 1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000 (single).
- Maryland state income tax: 10-bracket progressive system (2.00% to 6.50%).
- County income tax: Additional county tax applies based on your county of residence (not modeled in this calculator).
Maryland Standard Deduction
Maryland's standard deduction for 2026 is $2,600 for single filers and $5,150 for married filing jointly. This is subtracted from gross income before Maryland's tax brackets are applied. Note: the state deduction is separate from and much smaller than the federal standard deduction of $16,100.
County Income Taxes in Maryland
Maryland counties impose a mandatory local income tax in addition to the state tax. Rates vary by county.
| County | Rate |
|---|---|
| Montgomery | 3.20% |
| Baltimore County | 3.20% |
| Howard | 3.20% |
| Prince George's | 3.20% |
| Anne Arundel | 2.81% |
| Baltimore City | 3.20% |
| Frederick | 3.30% |
Note: County taxes are not modeled in this calculator. Your actual take-home pay will be lower by the applicable county rate.
Retirement Income in Maryland
Maryland offers a partial exclusion for pension and retirement income. Some retirement income may be exempt or receive preferential treatment depending on the source and amount. Maryland does not tax Social Security benefits. Pension and retirement income exclusion of up to $36,200 is available for taxpayers age 65+ (or totally disabled). For taxpayers under 65 who receive pension income from a qualifying plan, the exclusion is up to $15,000. The exclusion is reduced dollar-for-dollar if income exceeds certain thresholds. Military retirement income receives a separate 100% exclusion.
Worked Examples
Example 1: $85,000/year - Single, Monthly
Profile: $85,000 annual salary, Single filer, paid monthly (12 paychecks/year)
Federal income tax: -$822.50
Social Security: -$439.17
Medicare: -$102.71
Maryland state income tax: -$321.79
Net take-home pay: $5,397.16 per paycheck ($64,766/year)
Effective total tax rate: 23.80%
Example 2: $72,000/year - Married Filing Jointly, Semi-monthly
Profile: $72,000 annual salary, Married Filing Jointly filer, paid semimonthly (24 paychecks/year)
Federal income tax: -$178.33
Social Security: -$186.00
Medicare: -$43.50
Maryland state income tax: -$130.12
Net take-home pay: $2,462.05 per paycheck ($59,089/year)
Effective total tax rate: 17.93%
Example 3: $55,000/year - Head of Household, Biweekly
Profile: $55,000 annual salary, Head of Household filer, paid biweekly (26 paychecks/year)
Federal income tax: -$128.77
Social Security: -$131.15
Medicare: -$30.67
Maryland state income tax: -$89.05
Net take-home pay: $1,735.74 per paycheck ($45,129/year)
Effective total tax rate: 17.95%
Maryland Tax Notes
- Graduated brackets: 10 brackets from 2.00% to 6.50%.
- Millionaire surtax: Additional tax on income above $1,000,000.
- County income taxes: Mandatory county taxes apply on top of the state rate (not modeled here).
- Sales tax: 6.00% state rate, 6.00% combined average with local taxes.
Maryland imposes mandatory county income taxes on all residents. The county rate is applied to the same Maryland taxable income as the state tax. Rates range from 2.25% to 3.30% (Frederick County). Major jurisdictions (Montgomery, Baltimore County, Howard, Prince George's, and Baltimore City) all impose 3.20%. No local sales taxes exist; the 6% state rate is uniform statewide.
OBBBA Conformity
Maryland has decoupled from the federal OBBBA deductions. The tips and overtime deductions apply only on your federal return. Maryland continues to tax those wages at its regular rates.