Maryland income tax brackets for 2026
Maryland take-home depends on two layers: a graduated state income tax and a mandatory county income tax that every resident pays on top. The calculator above combines the state schedule with a representative county rate of about 3.2%.
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| First $3,000 | 2% to 4% |
| $3,000 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% |
| Over $500,000 | 6.25% to 6.5% |
2025 state schedule (single filers), plus a county income tax of 2.25% to 3.30% on top (about 3.2% used here). Figures are after the standard deduction and personal exemption.
What $70,000 looks like after taxes in Maryland
Here is how a $70,000 salary breaks down for a single filer with no 401(k) or other pre-tax deductions. Your exact county rate depends on where you live, so treat the state line as a close estimate.
| Gross salary | $70,000 |
| Federal income tax | $6,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare (FICA) | $5,355 |
| Maryland income tax (state + county) | $4,992 |
| Total tax | $16,917 |
| Take-home pay | $53,083 |
That leaves about $53,083 in take-home pay, roughly 75.8% of gross, for an effective total tax rate near 24.2%. About $2,030 of that Maryland line is county tax rather than state tax, which is why Maryland take-home swings with your address.
Why your Maryland take-home depends on your county
Every Maryland county and Baltimore City charges its own income tax, currently ranging from 2.25% to 3.30% of taxable income. That local layer is as large as a meaningful chunk of the state tax itself, so two people earning $70,000 can keep noticeably different amounts depending only on where they live.
Our estimate uses about 3.2%, near the high end where most of the population lives. If your county sits lower, your take-home is a few hundred dollars higher than shown. Check your county's posted rate for the precise figure.
What shapes your Maryland take-home pay
Federal income tax and FICA come out of every U.S. paycheck the same way; the state layer is what makes a Maryland paycheck specific. This Maryland figure combines the state income tax (2% to 5.75%, plus new 6.25%/6.5% brackets above $500k for 2025) with an estimated county income tax of about 3.2%. Every Maryland county levies a local income tax between 2.25% and 3.30%, so your exact rate depends on where you live. Figures are after the standard deduction and a personal exemption.
Your take-home (net) pay is your gross minus federal tax, FICA, those Maryland taxes, and any pre-tax deductions. The calculator above applies them in order, so the figure you see reflects what actually reaches your account each payday.
The deductions, step by step
- Pre-tax deductions, traditional 401(k), HSA, and pre-tax health premiums come out first and lower your taxable income (your 401(k) still counts for Social Security and Medicare, though).
- Federal income tax, applied to income after the standard deduction using the 2026 progressive brackets for your filing status.
- FICA, Social Security at 6.2% (up to the annual wage base) plus Medicare at 1.45% on all wages, with an extra 0.9% on wages above $200,000.
- Maryland tax, This Maryland figure combines the state income tax (2% to 5.75%, plus new 6.25%/6.5% brackets above $500k for 2025) with an estimated county income tax of about 3.2%. Every Maryland county levies a local income tax between 2.25% and 3.30%, so your exact rate depends on where you live. Figures are after the standard deduction and a personal exemption.
Biweekly vs. monthly, does it change your taxes?
No. Your total annual tax depends on what you earn in a year, not how often you're paid. A biweekly schedule (26 checks) simply slices the same annual take-home into smaller, more frequent amounts than a monthly schedule (12 checks). Switch the pay-frequency selector above and you'll see the per-paycheck figure change while the annual totals stay put.
Make your estimate more accurate
- Set your real 401(k) percentage and HSA amount, pre-tax contributions can noticeably raise take-home-adjusted savings.
- Choose the filing status that matches your W-4; married filing jointly widens the brackets.
- Add your pre-tax health premium if your employer deducts it before taxes.
This is an estimate of annual tax liability, not exact per-paycheck withholding (which follows IRS Pub 15-T tables and your specific W-4). It uses 2026 federal and FICA figures and applies each state's latest published income-tax schedule (2025 for most states until 2026 rates are released); it doesn't model local city taxes, post-tax deductions, or tax credits. Treat the result as a close ballpark, and check your actual pay stub for the precise numbers.