Finance calculators

Maryland Paycheck Calculator

Updated Jul 15, 2026 By Jehan Wadia
Rate Formulas
Pay & Job Type
Determines the year's brackets, deductions & county rates.
$
$
Positive = bonus/retro pay; negative = docked/leave without pay.
i
Maryland Location & Residency
Sets your local income tax rate (2.25%–3.20%).
Federal Withholding (W-4)
From W-4 Step 1(c).
Check if the W-4 Step 2c box is marked.
$
Annual credit total from Step 3.
$
Annual other income (Step 4a).
$
Annual deductions (Step 4b).
$
Extra flat amount per pay period (W-4 Step 4c).
Maryland State Withholding (MW507)
Line 1 of Form MW507.
Optional flat elected rate.
Applied to county local tax.
$
$
Pre-Tax Deductions

MD state retirement system contribution.
Pre-Tax Total: $0.00
Post-Tax Deductions
$
$
$
$
Post-Tax Total: $0.00
Take-Home Pay
$0.00
per bi-weekly pay period
Effective Tax Rate: 0.00%
Detailed Breakdown
Where Your Pay Goes
CategoryAmount% of Gross
Step-by-Step Solution
Rates Applied
TaxRateBasis

Introduction

This free Maryland paycheck calculator shows you how much money you take home after taxes. Enter your salary or hourly wage, pick your county, and set your filing status. The tool does the rest. It breaks down federal income tax, Maryland state income tax, county local tax, Social Security, Medicare, and all your deductions in seconds.

Maryland has a progressive state income tax with rates from 2% to 5.75%. On top of that, every county in Maryland charges its own local income tax, which ranges from 2.25% to 3.20%. These extra local taxes mean your take-home pay in Maryland depends a lot on where you live. This calculator handles all 23 counties and Baltimore City so you get an accurate result for your specific location.

You can also add pre-tax deductions like health insurance, 401(k), and HSA contributions, plus post-tax items like Roth 401(k) and child support. The calculator supports both the current W-4 form and the Maryland MW507 withholding form. Once you hit calculate, you get a full breakdown, a step-by-step explanation of the math, and a chart that shows exactly where every dollar of your paycheck goes.

How to Use Our Maryland Paycheck Calculator

Enter your pay details, tax filing info, and deductions below. The calculator will show your take-home pay, tax breakdown, and a chart of where your money goes each pay period or per year.

Pay & Job Type

Tax Year: Pick the tax year you want to calculate for. This sets the correct tax brackets, deductions, and county rates for that year.

Pay Type: Choose "Salary" if you earn a fixed yearly amount. Choose "Hourly" if you are paid by the hour. If you need to convert between the two, try our hourly to salary calculator or salary to hourly calculator.

Annual Salary: If you picked Salary, type your total yearly pay before taxes. You can use our annual income calculator if you need help figuring out this number.

Hourly Wage: If you picked Hourly, type the dollar amount you earn per hour.

Hours Per Pay Period: If you picked Hourly, enter the number of hours you work in each pay period. For example, 80 hours for a bi-weekly schedule. You can use our work hours calculator to track your hours.

Add Overtime: Turn this on if you work overtime hours. Then enter your overtime hourly rate and the number of overtime hours per pay period. For more details on overtime pay, check out our overtime calculator.

Adjustment to Pay: Enter a positive number for extra pay like a bonus. Enter a negative number for docked pay or leave without pay. Leave this at zero if it does not apply. If you received a bonus and want to see how it is taxed separately, try our bonus tax calculator.

Pay Frequency: Select how often you get paid. Common choices are bi-weekly (every two weeks, 26 times a year), semi-monthly (twice a month), or monthly. If you are paid bi-weekly, our biweekly paycheck calculator can give you a quick estimate.

Leap Year Factor: Check this box only if your pay year includes a leap year and you are paid daily. It adjusts the number of pay periods from 260 to 261.

Maryland Location & Residency

County / Jurisdiction: Pick the Maryland county where you live. Each county has its own local income tax rate, which ranges from 2.25% to 3.20%.

Maryland Residency Type: Choose "Maryland Resident" if you live in the state. Choose "Non-Resident" if you work in Maryland but live in another state. Non-residents pay a special 1.75% rate instead of a county rate.

Federal Withholding (W-4)

Federal Filing Status: Pick the filing status shown on your W-4 form. Options include Single, Married Filing Jointly, Married Filing Separately, and Head of Household. If you want to review your overall federal withholding, our IRS withholding calculator can help.

Step 2c — Multiple Jobs: Check this box if you marked the Step 2c box on your W-4. This applies when you or your spouse hold more than one job at the same time.

Step 3 — Dependents: Enter the total yearly dollar amount from Step 3 of your W-4. This is the tax credit for your qualifying children and other dependents.

Step 4a — Other Income: Enter any extra yearly income not from jobs, such as interest or dividends, as shown on your W-4 Step 4a.

Step 4b — Deductions: Enter any extra yearly deductions beyond the standard deduction, as shown on your W-4 Step 4b.

Additional Federal Withholding: Enter any extra flat dollar amount you want taken out of each paycheck for federal taxes. This matches W-4 Step 4c.

Maryland State Withholding (MW507)

Maryland Filing Status: Choose Single or Married based on your Maryland MW507 form.

State Exemptions: Enter the number of exemptions you claimed on Line 1 of your MW507 form. Most people enter 1 for themselves.

Elected State %: If you chose a flat withholding rate on your MW507 instead of the standard brackets, select it here. Otherwise, leave it at 0%. You can also use our effective tax rate calculator to see your overall state tax burden.

State Allowances: Enter the number of state withholding allowances from your MW507, if any.

Additional State Allowances: Enter any extra state allowances claimed on your MW507.

Local Allowances: Enter the number of local tax allowances from your MW507. These reduce your county tax withholding.

Additional State Withholding: Enter any extra flat dollar amount you want withheld per paycheck for Maryland state tax.

Additional Local Withholding: Enter any extra flat dollar amount you want withheld per paycheck for county local tax.

Pre-Tax Deductions

Medical / Health Insurance: Enter the amount you pay each pay period for health insurance. Use the dropdown to switch between a flat dollar amount ($) or a percent (%) of gross pay.

Dental Coverage: Enter your per-period dental insurance cost.

Vision Insurance: Enter your per-period vision insurance cost.

Pharmacy: Enter your per-period pharmacy plan cost, if any.

Health Care FSA: Enter the amount you put into a health care flexible spending account each pay period.

Dependent Care FSA: Enter the amount you put into a dependent care flexible spending account each pay period.

HSA: Enter the amount you put into a health savings account each pay period.

401(k): Enter your traditional 401(k) contribution as a dollar amount or percent of gross pay.

403(b): Enter your 403(b) contribution, if any. This is common for school and nonprofit workers.

457(b) Deferred Comp: Enter your 457(b) deferred compensation contribution, if any. This is common for state and local government workers.

SRA (Supplemental Retirement Annuity): Enter your supplemental retirement annuity contribution, if any.

Term Life Insurance: Enter the pre-tax amount you pay for employer-sponsored term life insurance.

Long Term Disability Insurance: Enter the pre-tax amount you pay for long term disability coverage.

Commuter / Parking Plan: Enter the pre-tax amount you set aside for commuter or parking benefits.

Other Pre-Tax Deduction: Enter any other pre-tax deduction not listed above. You can type a custom label for it.

Retirement Contribution: Select a percentage of your regular pay for the Maryland state retirement system, or choose "Fixed Dollar Amount" and type in a specific number. Choose "None" if this does not apply to you. For long-term retirement planning, try our retirement calculator.

Post-Tax Deductions

Roth 401(k): Enter the amount you contribute to a Roth 401(k) each pay period. This comes out after taxes. If you are also considering a Roth IRA, see our Roth IRA calculator.

Roth 457(b): Enter the amount you contribute to a Roth 457(b) each pay period.

MD Charity Campaign: Enter any per-period donation to the Maryland Charity Campaign.

State Employee Credit Union: Enter any per-period amount sent to the State Employee Credit Union.

Add Post-Tax Deduction: Click this button to add extra post-tax items like child support, wage garnishments, tax liens, or other after-tax costs. You can add up to six rows.

Tax Exemptions

Tax Exemptions: Click to expand this section. Check any box if you are legally exempt from that specific tax. Most workers should leave all boxes unchecked. Only mark a box if your employer or a tax form confirms you are exempt.

Results

Per Period / Annual Toggle: Use the buttons above the take-home pay amount to switch between seeing results for one pay period or for the full year.

After you fill in your details, click Calculate to see your Maryland take-home pay, a full tax breakdown, a pie chart, a step-by-step solution, and the exact rates used. Click Reset to clear all fields back to their defaults.

How the Maryland Paycheck Calculator Works

This Maryland paycheck calculator shows you how much money you take home after taxes and deductions are removed from your pay. It covers federal income tax, Maryland state income tax, county local tax, Social Security, and Medicare. You enter your salary or hourly wage, pick your county, and fill in your tax filing details. The calculator does the math and shows your net pay per paycheck or per year.

Taxes That Come Out of Your Maryland Paycheck

When you work in Maryland, several taxes are taken out of each paycheck before you get paid. Federal income tax is based on IRS tax brackets and your W-4 form. Maryland state income tax uses a progressive rate system that ranges from 2% to 5.75%, depending on how much you earn and your filing status. County local tax is unique to Maryland — every county and Baltimore City sets its own rate, ranging from 2.25% in Worcester County to 3.20% in several jurisdictions. You also pay Social Security tax at 6.2% of your wages up to the annual wage base and Medicare tax at 1.45%, with an extra 0.9% on high earnings. Together, Social Security and Medicare make up your payroll taxes.

Pre-Tax and Post-Tax Deductions

Pre-tax deductions lower your taxable income. These include health insurance, dental and vision coverage, FSA and HSA contributions, and retirement plans like a 401(k) or 403(b). Because they come out before taxes are calculated, they reduce the amount of tax you owe. Post-tax deductions, such as a Roth 401(k) or wage garnishments, come out after taxes and do not lower your tax bill.

Maryland County Tax Rates

Maryland is one of the few states where your county of residence directly affects your paycheck. Each of Maryland's 23 counties and Baltimore City charges a local income tax on top of the state tax. This calculator includes every county rate so your results match where you actually live. If you are not a Maryland resident but work in the state, a flat non-resident tax rate of 1.75% applies instead.

Who Should Use This Calculator

This tool is helpful for Maryland employees who want to understand their paycheck, plan a budget, or check if their withholdings are correct. It works for salaried and hourly workers, supports multiple pay frequencies, and lets you add overtime, bonuses, and extra withholdings. Use it any time your pay, tax situation, or county changes so you always know what to expect on payday. If you are also interested in estimating your paycheck in another state, try our general paycheck calculator or state-specific tools like the California paycheck calculator, Texas paycheck calculator, Florida paycheck calculator, or PA paycheck calculator. For broader salary planning, our salary calculator and pay raise calculator are also useful resources.


Formulas used

Gross Pay per Period (Salary)
\text{Gross} = \frac{\text{Annual Salary}}{P} + \text{Adjustment}
Federal Taxable Income (Annualized)
\text{Fed Taxable} = (\text{Gross} - \text{Pre-Tax}) \times P + \text{Other Income}_{4a} - \text{Deductions}_{4b} - \text{Std. Deduction}
Federal Income Tax per Period
\text{Fed Tax}_{pp} = \frac{\text{ProgressiveTax}(\text{Fed Taxable}) - \text{Dep. Credit}_{3}}{P} + \text{Addl. W/H}
Maryland Standard Deduction
\text{MD Std} = \min\!\left(\max(0.15 \times \text{AGI},\; d_{\min}),\; d_{\max}\right)
Maryland State Taxable Income
\text{MD Taxable} = \text{AGI} - \text{MD Std. Ded.} - (\text{Exemptions} \times \$3{,}200)
FICA Taxes per Period
\text{FICA}_{pp} = \frac{0.062 \times \min(W,\; \text{SS Base})}{P} + \frac{0.0145 \times W + 0.009 \times \max(0,\; W - T_{\text{Med}})}{P}
Net Take-Home Pay
\text{Net} = \text{Gross} - \text{Pre-Tax} - \text{Total Taxes} - \text{Post-Tax}
Effective Tax Rate
\text{Eff. Rate} = \frac{\text{Total Taxes}}{\text{Gross}} \times 100\%

Frequently asked questions

What is the Maryland Family Leave Insurance tax?

Starting in 2025, Maryland charges a Family Leave Insurance (FAMLI) tax on employee wages. The rate is 0.45% and it applies to wages up to the Social Security wage base. This tax funds the state's paid family and medical leave program. The calculator adds this tax automatically when you pick tax year 2025 or later.

Why is my take-home pay different from my coworker who earns the same salary?

Even with the same salary, take-home pay can differ for many reasons. You might live in different counties with different local tax rates. Your W-4 and MW507 forms may have different filing statuses or exemptions. Your pre-tax deductions like health insurance or 401(k) contributions may also be different. All of these change how much tax is withheld from your paycheck.

What is the MW507 form?

The MW507 is Maryland's state tax withholding form. It is similar to the federal W-4 but only applies to Maryland state and local taxes. You fill it out when you start a job in Maryland. On it, you pick your filing status, claim exemptions, and set any extra withholding amounts. This calculator uses your MW507 entries to figure out your state and local tax.

What does the Step 2c checkbox do?

The Step 2c checkbox matches the same box on the federal W-4 form. You check it if you or your spouse hold more than one job at the same time. When checked, the calculator cuts the standard deduction in half. This increases your federal tax withholding so you do not owe a big bill at tax time.

What is the difference between pre-tax and post-tax deductions?

Pre-tax deductions come out of your pay before taxes are calculated. They lower your taxable income, so you pay less in taxes. Examples include health insurance and traditional 401(k) contributions. Post-tax deductions come out after taxes are calculated. They do not reduce your tax bill. Examples include Roth 401(k) contributions and child support payments.

How do I know which county to pick?

Pick the Maryland county where you live, not where you work. Maryland local income tax is based on your county of residence. If you live in Baltimore City, select Baltimore City. If you live outside Maryland but work in the state, choose "Non-Resident" under residency type instead.

What is the non-resident tax rate in Maryland?

If you work in Maryland but live in another state, you pay a flat non-resident tax rate of 1.75% instead of a county local tax. Select "Non-Resident" under the Maryland Residency Type dropdown to apply this rate.

Can I use this calculator for part-time work?

Yes. Choose "Hourly" as your pay type, then enter your hourly wage and the number of hours you work per pay period. For example, if you work 20 hours a week and get paid bi-weekly, enter 40 as your hours per pay period. The calculator will figure out your gross pay and taxes from there.

What does the Elected State Percentage option do?

Some Maryland employees choose a flat state withholding rate on their MW507 instead of using the standard progressive tax brackets. If you made that choice, select your elected rate from the dropdown. If you did not elect a flat rate, leave it at 0% and the calculator will use the normal Maryland tax brackets.

Does this calculator account for the Social Security wage base limit?

Yes. Social Security tax (6.2%) only applies to wages up to the annual wage base limit. For 2026, that limit is $182,000. If your annual wages go above that amount, you stop paying Social Security tax on the extra earnings. The calculator handles this automatically based on the tax year you select.

What is the additional Medicare tax?

If your annual wages go above $200,000 as a single filer or $250,000 as married filing jointly, you pay an extra 0.9% Medicare tax on the amount over the threshold. This is on top of the regular 1.45% Medicare tax. The calculator includes this additional tax when it applies.

How do I add a bonus to my paycheck calculation?

Use the "Adjustment to Pay" field. Enter the bonus amount as a positive number. The calculator will add it to your gross pay for that pay period and calculate all taxes on the total. Keep in mind this shows the bonus taxed along with your regular pay, not as a separate supplemental payment.

What is the difference between bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay?

Bi-weekly means you get paid every two weeks, which gives you 26 paychecks per year. Semi-monthly means you get paid twice a month, usually on set dates like the 1st and 15th, which gives you 24 paychecks per year. Your per-period take-home pay will be different because the annual salary is divided by a different number of pay periods.

Why is there a warning that my deductions exceed my gross pay?

This warning appears when the total of your pre-tax deductions, taxes, and post-tax deductions adds up to more than your gross pay for the period. This means your net pay would be negative, which is not possible. Review your entries and lower your deduction amounts until they fit within your gross pay.

What is the Maryland standard deduction?

Maryland calculates your standard deduction as 15% of your adjusted gross income. For single filers, it is capped between $1,600 and $2,400. For married filers, it is capped between $3,200 and $4,850. The calculator figures this out automatically based on your income and filing status.

What does the retirement contribution dropdown do?

This is for Maryland state employees who contribute to the state retirement system. Pick a percentage of your regular pay, or choose "Fixed Dollar Amount" and type a specific number. If you do not participate in the Maryland state retirement system, leave it set to "None."

Can I switch between seeing per-period and annual results?

Yes. Above the take-home pay amount in the results section, you will see two buttons: "Per Period" and "Annual." Click "Annual" to see your yearly totals. Click "Per Period" to go back to seeing the amount for one paycheck. All the numbers in the breakdown update when you switch.

What does the effective tax rate mean?

The effective tax rate is the total percentage of your gross pay that goes to all taxes combined. It is calculated by dividing your total tax withholdings by your gross pay. This gives you a single number that shows your overall tax burden, which is usually lower than your marginal tax bracket.

Are the results from this calculator exact?

The results are close estimates based on published tax rates and standard withholding rules. Your actual paycheck may differ slightly due to rounding, employer-specific payroll systems, mid-year changes, or other factors. Use this calculator for planning purposes, and check your actual pay stub for the final numbers.

What tax year should I pick?

Pick the tax year that matches the pay period you want to calculate. If you are figuring out your current 2026 paycheck, select 2026. Each tax year has its own federal brackets, standard deductions, Social Security wage base, and county rates. Picking the wrong year will give you inaccurate results.

How do Maryland state exemptions reduce my taxes?

Each Maryland state exemption you claim on your MW507 reduces your taxable income by $3,200. For example, if you claim 1 exemption, your Maryland taxable income drops by $3,200 before the state tax rate is applied. More exemptions mean lower state and local tax withholding.

What happens if I check a tax exemption box?

Checking a tax exemption box tells the calculator to skip that tax entirely. For example, if you check "Exempt from Federal Income Tax," no federal income tax will be withheld. Only check a box if your employer or a tax form confirms you are legally exempt. Most workers should leave all boxes unchecked.

Does this calculator work for self-employed people?

This calculator is designed for W-2 employees, not self-employed workers. Self-employed people pay both the employer and employee share of Social Security and Medicare (called self-employment tax), and they handle their own estimated tax payments. The withholding logic here follows employer payroll rules.

What is the Bi-Weekly 27 Periods option?

Some years have 27 bi-weekly pay periods instead of the usual 26. This happens when the calendar lines up so there is an extra pay date in the year. If your employer told you that you will receive 27 paychecks this year, select this option. It divides your annual salary by 27 instead of 26, so each paycheck is slightly smaller.