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Maryland Paycheck Calculator 2026 — 5.75% Top Rate + Montgomery County Local Tax

Drop your Maryland gross salary — get annual + monthly + bi-weekly take-home, full breakdown of federal + FICA + Maryland state + local tax, effective rate, and how you compare to the Maryland median household. Includes 2026 Maryland brackets from the Maryland Comptroller.

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Reviewed by CalcBold Editorial · Sources: IRS Pub 15-T 2026 (projected) + SSA wage-base 2026 + Maryland Comptroller — state + county income taxLast verified Methodology

Maryland Paycheck Calculator

Pre-tax salary from your employer. Maryland median household income is $98,461 (2024 ACS).

Drives both federal and Maryland bracket selection. Standard deductions differ by status.

% of gross to traditional 401(k). Lowers federal taxable income but NOT FICA wages.

Annual HSA contribution through payroll. Triple-advantage — lowers federal AND state AND FICA.

Select your local-tax jurisdiction (city/county). Defaults to standard Maryland (no local tax).

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How much do I take home in Maryland? — short answer first

Maryland's income tax is uniquely complex — a state progressive schedule (2-5.75% across 8 brackets) PLUS a mandatory county piggyback tax ranging 2.25-3.20% applied to the same taxable income base. Every Maryland resident pays state + county; non-residents working in Maryland pay state + a special non-resident rate (~2.25%) in lieu of county. Top combined rate in Montgomery County or Baltimore City reaches ~8.95%. Standard deduction is unusually small ($2,550 single / $5,150 joint maximum), and personal exemptions phase out at higher incomes. Maryland maintains reciprocity with DC, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia — critical for the dense DC-area commuter economy.

How Maryland taxes payroll in 2026

Maryland levies a two-layer individual income tax — state + county — under §10-105 and §10-106 Tax-General Article. The state schedule is 8-bracket progressive (2-5.75%) with brackets escalating at $1K, $2K, $3K, $100K (single) or $150K (joint), $125K/$175K, $150K/$225K, $250K/$300K, with the top 5.75% rate above $250K single / $300K joint. Filing-status thresholds diverge between single and joint at the $100K threshold and above. On top of the state schedule, every Maryland county and Baltimore City levies a 'piggyback' personal income tax under §10-103 — applied to the same taxable income base as the state tax. County rates range from 2.25% (Worcester County, lowest) to 3.20% (Montgomery, Prince George's, Baltimore City, and others — the maximum allowed by state law). A Montgomery County resident earning $100K taxable income pays roughly: state 4.75% bracket ≈ $4,300 + county 3.20% × $100K = $3,200 — combined ~$7,500, an effective 7.5% rate. Maryland's standard deduction is 15% of AGI with a $2,550 minimum / max for single filers ($5,150 joint), 2024 base — among the most restrictive in the US. Personal exemption is $3,200 per filer + spouse + dependent, with phase-out beginning at $100K single AGI. Maryland maintains reciprocity with the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia — cross-border workers file only state-of-residence (which for MD residents working in DC means filing only MD; for VA residents working in Bethesda means filing only VA). This makes Maryland the centerpiece of the DC-area cross-border tax architecture.

Maryland state income tax brackets (single filer, 2026)

Taxable income up toMarginal rate
$1,0002.00%
$2,0003.00%
$3,0004.00%
$100,0004.75%
$125,0005.00%
$150,0005.25%
$250,0005.50%
Above prior threshold5.75%

Standard deduction (single): $2,550 · top marginal rate 5.75%. Married filing jointly + head of household brackets follow the same shape with adjusted thresholds.

Maryland city callouts

  • Montgomery County (Bethesda, Rockville) — 3.20% county tax — top tier; combined with state 5.75% = 8.95% top effective; DC reciprocity makes commuting frictionless.
  • Baltimore City — 3.20% city tax; combined ~8.95% top; property tax ~1.62% effective (highest in MD); reciprocity coverage applies.
  • Anne Arundel + Howard Counties — 2.81% / 3.20% county tax respectively; suburban DC alternatives with slightly lower combined rates than Montgomery.

Local tax stack in Maryland

  • Montgomery County (DC suburbs) (residents) — 3.20% flat
  • Baltimore City (residents) — 3.20% flat
  • Anne Arundel County (residents) — 2.81% flat
  • Prince George's County (residents) — 3.20% flat

Reciprocity + multi-state notes

Maryland has reciprocity with the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Cross-border workers file only state-of-residence; the working state does not withhold income tax. This eliminates dual-filing burden and is critical for the dense DC-area commuter economy.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter your annual gross salary. Pre-tax, what your employer pays before any deductions.
  2. Pick filing status. Single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household. Drives both federal and Maryland brackets.
  3. Add 401(k) and HSA contributions (optional). Both lower your federal taxable income; HSA also lowers FICA wages.
  4. Pick your locality. Drives local-tax stacking (NYC, Yonkers, etc). NONE if you live outside any locality with local payroll tax.
  5. Read the verdict. Annual + monthly + bi-weekly take-home, federal + state + local breakdown, and effective tax rate.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing gross with adjusted gross. The calculator wants your gross salary — what your employer pays before any pre-tax deductions or contributions. If you enter your W-2 Box 1 (already net of 401k), the math will under-count your tax.
  • Forgetting that 401(k) is still subject to FICA. Traditional 401(k) reduces federal income tax but NOT Social Security + Medicare. Only HSA (through payroll) reduces both.
  • Using the wrong filing status for state tax. Maryland uses the same filing status categories as the IRS, but bracket thresholds differ from federal. Pick the status that matches your actual tax filing — not just what gives the best number.
  • Not selecting your locality. If you live in a city with local payroll tax (NYC, Yonkers, etc.), the locality dropdown above is required for accurate math.
  • Ignoring multi-state implications. If you work in Maryland but live elsewhere (or vice versa), you may owe taxes in both states with a credit between them. This calculator assumes you both live and work in Maryland.

Methodology & Sources

Federal income tax + FICA: IRS Pub 15-T 2026 projected brackets + Social Security Administration 2026 wage base ($181,000) + Medicare 1.45% (no cap) + Additional Medicare 0.9% above $200K/$250K thresholds. Maryland state income tax: Maryland Comptroller — state + county income tax — last verified 2026-05-13. Local taxes (NYC + Yonkers + similar) sourced from the same state DOR publication. Brackets refresh annually — most state DORs publish updates in Q4 preceding the tax year. Federal 2026 figures are projected from 2025 (Rev. Proc. 2024-40) with ~2.5% inflation adjustment; refresh against IRS October release.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Maryland county 'piggyback' tax?

Every Maryland county and Baltimore City levies a piggyback personal income tax under §10-103 Tax-General Article. Rates range from 2.25% (Worcester County) to 3.20% (Montgomery, Prince George's, Baltimore City — the statutory maximum). The tax is applied to the same Maryland taxable income base as the state's 2-5.75% schedule. Combined state + county can reach ~8.95% at top brackets.

I live in Virginia but work in Bethesda — what do I pay?

Only Virginia tax — the MD-VA reciprocity agreement means Maryland does not withhold or assess state OR county tax on Virginia residents working in Maryland. File Form MW507 with your Maryland-based employer to halt MD withholding. You'll file only the Virginia VA-760 return. This applies symmetrically: MD residents working in VA file only MD.

Why is Maryland's standard deduction so low?

Maryland's standard deduction is calculated as 15% of AGI, capped at $2,550 (single) / $5,150 (joint) under §10-217. The cap has not been raised significantly in years, making MD's standard deduction among the most restrictive in the US. Itemizing federal deductions may produce a better Maryland outcome at moderate income levels.

Are Social Security and retirement income taxed in Maryland?

Social Security benefits are FULLY exempt from Maryland state tax — one of 41 states with this policy. Other retirement income (pensions, 401(k), IRA) is taxed at the state + county rates, but a pension exclusion (up to ~$36K for age 65+, 2024 base) and other age-based credits reduce the effective rate. Maryland is moderately retirement-friendly relative to neighbouring states.

Want to compare Maryland take-home pay against another state? Use the national take-home pay calculator with a flat-rate state input. To see what you'd save by changing your 401(k) contribution, drop the gross salary into the salary-to-hourly calculator. For cost-of-living adjustments when comparing jobs across states, the cost of living calculator adjusts for housing + groceries + tax differences between metros.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common questions we get about this calculator — each answer is kept under 60 words so you can scan.

  • What's the effective tax rate in Maryland at $100,000 single filer in 2026?
    For a single filer at $100K gross in Maryland, expect roughly federal $14,000 + FICA $7,650 + Maryland state tax (varies by bracket) + any local tax. Plug your numbers into the calculator above for an exact verdict — the rate depends on which brackets your taxable income crosses after standard deduction.
  • When are Maryland tax brackets updated for 2026?
    Maryland's Department of Revenue typically publishes updated brackets in Q4 preceding the tax year (late 2025 for 2026 tax year). The calculator's brackets reflect the latest published or projected values, last verified 2026-05-13. Always confirm against Maryland Comptroller — state + county income tax for filing.
  • What is the Maryland county 'piggyback' tax?
    Every Maryland county and Baltimore City levies a piggyback personal income tax under §10-103 Tax-General Article. Rates range from 2.25% (Worcester County) to 3.20% (Montgomery, Prince George's, Baltimore City — the statutory maximum). The tax is applied to the same Maryland taxable income base as the state's 2-5.75% schedule. Combined state + county can reach ~8.95% at top brackets.
  • I live in Virginia but work in Bethesda — what do I pay?
    Only Virginia tax — the MD-VA reciprocity agreement means Maryland does not withhold or assess state OR county tax on Virginia residents working in Maryland. File Form MW507 with your Maryland-based employer to halt MD withholding. You'll file only the Virginia VA-760 return. This applies symmetrically: MD residents working in VA file only MD.
  • Why is Maryland's standard deduction so low?
    Maryland's standard deduction is calculated as 15% of AGI, capped at $2,550 (single) / $5,150 (joint) under §10-217. The cap has not been raised significantly in years, making MD's standard deduction among the most restrictive in the US. Itemizing federal deductions may produce a better Maryland outcome at moderate income levels.
  • Are Social Security and retirement income taxed in Maryland?
    Social Security benefits are FULLY exempt from Maryland state tax — one of 41 states with this policy. Other retirement income (pensions, 401(k), IRA) is taxed at the state + county rates, but a pension exclusion (up to ~$36K for age 65+, 2024 base) and other age-based credits reduce the effective rate. Maryland is moderately retirement-friendly relative to neighbouring states.