How Maryland taxes your paycheck
For withholding, Maryland's rate starts at 4.75% of taxable income and rises in steps to 6.5%. Single filers reach the 5% rate at $100,000 of taxable income; joint filers and heads of household reach it at $150,000.
Taxable income is your yearly pay minus a $3,400 standard deduction and $3,200 for each exemption on your Form MW507. If you never give your employer an MW507, tax is withheld as if you had claimed one exemption.
Every Maryland county and Baltimore City adds a local income tax on the same taxable income. In 2026, twelve of the 24 charge 3.2%. Worcester County is the lowest at 2.25%, and Dorchester and Kent counties are the highest at 3.3%. Anne Arundel and Frederick counties use rates that rise with income.
If you live outside Maryland and work in the state, you pay no county tax, but an extra 2.25% state tax is withheld instead. Residents of states that have a reciprocal agreement with Maryland are exempt from Maryland withholding altogether.
A traditional 401(k) and pre-tax health premiums lower your Maryland tax, because in most cases the wages subject to federal withholding are the wages Maryland taxes. Nothing is withheld from someone paid at a rate of less than $5,000 a year.
| Deduction | Rate | Applies to wages up to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% | No limit |
| Social Security | 6.2% | $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% (2.35% over $200,000) | No limit |
| Maryland income tax | 4.75% to 6.5% | No limit |
Maryland withholding rates
| Yearly taxable pay | Rate on that part |
|---|---|
| $0 to $100,000 | 4.75% |
| $100,000 to $125,000 | 5% |
| $125,000 to $150,000 | 5.25% |
| $150,000 to $250,000 | 5.5% |
| $250,000 to $500,000 | 5.75% |
| $500,000 to $1,000,000 | 6.25% |
| Over $1,000,000 | 6.5% |
Taxable pay here is your yearly pay after pre-tax deductions, minus a deduction of $3,400 and $3,200 for each exemption. Married filers and heads of household use a separate schedule with the same rates on the first $100,000 of taxable pay.
Maryland county income tax rates in 2026
| Where you live | Local income tax |
|---|---|
| Allegany County | 3.2% |
| Anne Arundel County | 2.7% to 3.2% |
| Baltimore City | 3.2% |
| Baltimore County | 3.2% |
| Calvert County | 3.2% |
| Caroline County | 3.2% |
| Carroll County | 3.03% |
| Cecil County | 2.74% |
| Charles County | 3.03% |
| Dorchester County | 3.3% |
| Frederick County | 2.25% to 3.2% |
| Garrett County | 2.65% |
| Harford County | 3.06% |
| Howard County | 3.2% |
| Kent County | 3.3% |
| Montgomery County | 3.2% |
| Prince George's County | 3.2% |
| Queen Anne's County | 3.2% |
| Somerset County | 3.2% |
| St. Mary's County | 3.2% |
| Talbot County | 2.4% |
| Washington County | 2.95% |
| Wicomico County | 3.2% |
| Worcester County | 2.25% |
| Outside Maryland (you work in Maryland) | 2.25% |
How to use the Maryland paycheck calculator
Enter your salary, or your hourly wage and hours, choose how often you are paid and pick the filing status on your W-4. The calculator estimates your Maryland (MD) take-home pay for each paycheck and for the year, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, Maryland income tax and local taxes.
It follows the published withholding formulas that employers' payroll systems use, so it works as a paycheck estimator for a job offer, a raise or a change to your W-4. Open "401(k), benefits and W-4 details" to add pre-tax deductions, dependents or extra withholding. Your real paycheck can differ if your employer takes out deductions the calculator does not know about.
Maryland take-home pay examples
Single filer, paid every two weeks, standard W-4 with no dependents, no 401(k) or pre-tax benefits, in Maryland with one exemption on Form MW507 and Montgomery County's 3.2% county tax.
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | Taxes per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $939.41 | $24,424.70 | $5,575.30 |
| $40,000 | $1,217.87 | $31,664.70 | $8,335.30 |
| $50,000 | $1,496.34 | $38,904.70 | $11,095.30 |
| $60,000 | $1,774.79 | $46,144.70 | $13,855.30 |
| $75,000 | $2,159.80 | $56,154.70 | $18,845.30 |
| $100,000 | $2,759.80 | $71,754.70 | $28,245.30 |
| $150,000 | $3,932.17 | $102,236.20 | $47,763.80 |
| Hourly rate | Per week | Per year | Before taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 an hour | $486.41 | $25,293.50 | $31,200 |
| $20.00 an hour | $631.21 | $32,823.10 | $41,600 |
| $25.00 an hour | $776.01 | $40,352.70 | $52,000 |
| $30.00 an hour | $920.81 | $47,882.30 | $62,400 |
| $40.00 an hour | $1,178.30 | $61,271.50 | $83,200 |
| $50.00 an hour | $1,427.90 | $74,250.70 | $104,000 |
Maryland paycheck questions
What is the Maryland income tax rate on a paycheck in 2026?
Withholding starts at 4.75% of taxable income and rises to 5%, 5.25%, 5.5%, 5.75%, 6.25% and 6.5% as income grows. On top of that, your county's rate of 2.25% to 3.3% is withheld.
How much is Maryland county income tax?
Between 2.25% and 3.3% of your Maryland taxable income in 2026, depending on where you live. Twelve of the 24 jurisdictions, including Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard and Baltimore counties and Baltimore City, charge 3.2%.
How much is a Maryland withholding exemption worth?
$3,200 a year for each exemption on Form MW507, on top of a $3,400 standard deduction.
I work in Maryland but live in another state. What is withheld?
Maryland state tax plus a special 2.25% nonresident rate in place of a county tax. If your home state has a reciprocal agreement with Maryland, no Maryland tax is withheld.
Does a 401(k) lower my Maryland taxes?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) contributions and pre-tax health premiums are left out of the pay Maryland and its counties tax.
Sources
- Comptroller of Maryland: Maryland Employer Withholding Guide, effective January 2026
- Comptroller of Maryland: Withholding Tax Facts, January to December 2026
- IRS: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Social Security wage base for 2026
- 2026 401(k) contribution limit
Tax figures last reviewed October 7, 2026. How we calculate