Maryland Paycheck Calculator 2026

How Maryland paycheck taxes work

Every Maryland paycheck is reduced by four layers of tax before it reaches your bank account. Understanding each layer helps you predict your real take-home pay.

1. 1. Federal Income TaxProgressive: 10%–37% on federal taxable income after the $16,100 standard deduction (single, 2026).
2. 2. Maryland State TaxProgressive: 2%–6.5% on Maryland taxable income after the $3,350 standard deduction (single, 2026).
3. 3. County Piggyback TaxFlat 2.25%–3.30% based on your county of residence — applied to your Maryland taxable income, not gross pay.
4. 4. FICA6.2% Social Security (on the first $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare on all wages. Your employer matches both.

Maryland paycheck calculator by county

Pick your county to see a full take-home breakdown by salary. Sorted by local income tax rate (highest to lowest).

• Baltimore City3.30% local tax →
• Dorchester County3.30% local tax →
• Kent County3.30% local tax →
• Montgomery County3.30% local tax →
• Allegany County3.20% local tax →
• Baltimore County3.20% local tax →
• Caroline County3.20% local tax →
• Howard County3.20% local tax →
• Prince George's County3.20% local tax →
• Queen Anne's County3.20% local tax →
• Wicomico County3.20% local tax →
• Harford County3.10% local tax →
• Carroll County3.05% local tax →
• Charles County3.03% local tax →
• Calvert County3.00% local tax →
• Cecil County3.00% local tax →
• St. Mary's County3.00% local tax →
• Washington County3.00% local tax →
• Anne Arundel County2.70% - 3.20% local tax →
• Garrett County2.65% local tax →
• Frederick County2.25% - 3.20% local tax →
• Talbot County2.40% local tax →
• Somerset County2.25% local tax →
• Worcester County2.25% local tax →

2026 Maryland county tax rates at a glance

All 24 Maryland jurisdictions and their local income tax rates for 2026. Your rate is based on where you live, not where you work.

More Maryland pay calculators

• Salary CalculatorAnnual salary → exact take-home for any county and filing status
• Hourly Paycheck CalculatorHourly rate + hours/week → real after-tax pay per check
• Overtime Pay CalculatorTime-and-a-half overtime rate → net take-home paycheck
• Bonus Tax CalculatorSee how much of your Maryland bonus you actually keep
• Salary to Hourly ConverterConvert any Maryland pay rate across all pay periods
• Self-Employment Tax Calculator1099 net profit → SE tax, income tax, quarterly estimates
• MW507 Withholding EstimatorSee what each exemption on Line 1 does to your withholding per check
• MW507 Exemptions WorksheetWork out the exact number to write on Line 1 of Form MW507

One thing the calculator above cannot know: how many exemptions you claimed on Form MW507. This page models withholding at the standard deduction, so if your real paycheck is bigger or smaller than the figure here, your MW507 Line 1 is usually why.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate my take-home pay in Maryland?

Maryland take-home pay is what survives four separate deductions, applied in this order. First, federal income tax on your income after the $16,100 federal standard deduction (single, 2026). Second, Maryland state income tax (2%–6.5%) on your income after the separate, much smaller $3,350 Maryland standard deduction. Third, your county's local "piggyback" tax, charged on that same Maryland taxable income — not on gross pay. Fourth, FICA at 7.65% of gross (6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 plus 1.45% Medicare). The third layer is why the same salary pays differently across the state: $75,000 leaves about $2,159 per biweekly paycheck in Montgomery County and $2,187 in Worcester County. The calculator above runs all four layers at once.

How do I use the Maryland paycheck calculator?

Enter your gross salary or hourly wage, select your pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly), choose your filing status, and pick your Maryland county. The calculator instantly shows your take-home pay per paycheck and annually after all four tax layers: federal income tax, Maryland state income tax, your county's local piggyback tax, and FICA (Social Security and Medicare).

What is the county piggyback tax in Maryland?

Maryland's county piggyback tax is a local income tax collected by each of the state's 24 jurisdictions (23 counties plus Baltimore City). It ranges from 2.25% (Somerset and Worcester counties) to 3.30% (Baltimore City, Montgomery, Kent, and Dorchester counties). It is applied to the same Maryland taxable income base used for state tax — meaning it is calculated after your Maryland standard deduction.

What are the local income tax rates in Maryland for 2026?

Maryland's 24 taxing jurisdictions charge local income tax between 2.25% and 3.30% for 2026. Somerset and Worcester are lowest at 2.25%; Baltimore City, Montgomery, Kent and Dorchester are at the 3.30% ceiling. Two jurisdictions are not flat: Anne Arundel County uses graduated brackets running 2.70%–3.20%, and Frederick County runs 2.25%–3.20%, so a single headline rate for either would be a rate nobody actually pays. Your rate is set by where you live, not where you work, and it applies to your Maryland taxable income — the same base as state tax, after the Maryland standard deduction. The table further down this page lists all 24 with a calculator for each.

What percentage of taxes are taken out of my paycheck in Maryland?

For most Maryland workers, expect 25%–40% of gross pay to be withheld. The exact percentage depends on your filing status, county, and pre-tax deductions. A single filer earning $75,000 in Montgomery County (3.30% local rate) typically keeps about 73% of their gross pay. A single filer in Worcester County (2.25% local rate) on the same salary keeps about 74%. Federal income tax is the largest deduction, followed by FICA (7.65%), then Maryland state tax, then the county piggyback tax.

Which Maryland county has the lowest taxes?

Somerset and Worcester counties both charge the lowest local income tax rate in Maryland at 2.25%. Talbot County (2.40%) is the next lowest flat rate. Frederick County's graduated brackets also open at 2.25%, but they climb to 3.20%, so low earners there pay the state minimum while higher earners do not. On a $100,000 salary, living in Worcester rather than Montgomery County (3.30%) keeps about $981 more per year — less than the 1.05-point rate gap implies, because the piggyback tax is charged on Maryland taxable income rather than on gross pay.

How is the Maryland paycheck calculator different from ADP or SmartAsset?

Our Maryland paycheck calculator is built exclusively for Maryland — it uses the exact 2026 Maryland standard deductions ($3,350 single / $6,700 joint), all 24 county-specific piggyback tax rates, and the updated federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32. General calculators may use statewide averages or outdated county rates. Our calculator also includes the 2026 Social Security wage base ($184,500) and the Additional Medicare Tax on wages over $200,000.

Do I pay paycheck taxes based on where I work or where I live in Maryland?

Maryland county taxes are based on your county of residence — where you live — not where your office is located. This is why your employer asks for your home address on Form MW507. If you live in Montgomery County (3.30% rate) but commute to a job in Frederick County (graduated, 2.25%–3.20%), you still pay Montgomery County's higher rate on every dollar. It works the other way too: a Frederick resident working in Rockville is taxed at Frederick's brackets, not Montgomery's 3.30%. This creates significant differences for workers who commute across county lines.

What is the Maryland standard deduction for 2026?

For 2026, Maryland's standard deduction is $3,350 for single filers and $6,700 for married couples filing jointly. The proposed 2026 bill (HB 411) to increase the standard deduction to $4,100/$8,200 failed to pass, meaning the standard deductions remain at $3,350/$6,700. This deduction reduces the income subject to both state and county tax. The federal standard deduction is separate: $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married filing jointly in 2026.

Can this calculator handle hourly wages?

Yes. Switch the 'How are you paid?' toggle to Hourly, enter your hourly rate and the number of hours worked per week. The calculator converts your hourly wage to an annual equivalent, then applies all four Maryland tax layers to show your per-paycheck and annual take-home pay. You can also use our dedicated Maryland Hourly Paycheck Calculator for additional options including overtime.