California vs Maryland Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $532 more a year in California than in Maryland ($44 a month).
California
1% - 13.3% state income tax
$58,927
take-home on $75,000 · $4,911/month
30th of 51 states for take-home pay
California paycheck calculator ›Maryland
2% - 6.5% state income tax
$58,395
take-home on $75,000 · $4,866/month
39th of 51 states for take-home pay
Maryland paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in California and Maryland by salary
| Salary | California | Maryland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,772 | $32,786 | $986 more in California |
| $50,000 | $41,382 | $40,346 | $1,036 more in California |
| $60,000 | $48,817 | $47,906 | $911 more in California |
| $75,000 | $58,927 | $58,395 | $532 more in California |
| $100,000 | $74,269 | $74,796 | $527 more in Maryland |
| $125,000 | $89,467 | $91,006 | $1,538 more in Maryland |
| $150,000 | $104,230 | $106,751 | $2,521 more in Maryland |
| $200,000 | $134,716 | $139,104 | $4,388 more in Maryland |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in California you would need about $75,800 in Maryland; to match $75,000 in Maryland you would need about $74,150 in California.
How California and Maryland tax wages
| 2026 | California | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 10 brackets from 1% to 13.3% | 10 brackets from 2% to 6.5% |
| Top rate | 13.3% | 6.5% |
| Standard deduction | $5,900 single | $3,400 single |
| State tax on $75k | $2,665 (3.6%) | $3,197 (4.3%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | Yes (6 modeled) |
| Reciprocity | None | District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia |
| 2026 change | No rate change | Maryland added 6.25% and 6.5% brackets for high earners, effective for 2025 and later years. |
Moving between California and Maryland
Moving from California to Maryland
Moving to Maryland, plan for two income taxes: the state's, at $3,197 for a single $75,000 earner, and your county's, $2,189 in a 3.2% county. If you are deciding between Maryland and Northern Virginia for a DC job, the county tax is usually the deciding difference. Frederick and Anne Arundel counties cost a little less at middle incomes.
Moving from Maryland to California
Moving to California from Nevada costs $2,665 in state income tax at $75,000, and from Arizona $1,192, before SDI. Coming from Oregon you keep $2,390 more. The gap grows quickly with pay because of the 9.3% bracket. File Form DE 4 with your new employer, budget for SDI on every check, and note that HSA contributions lose their state tax break.
California paychecks in brief
California taxes wages in 10 brackets, from 1% on the first $11,456 of taxable income to 13.3% above $1 million. A single filer earning $75,000 owes $2,665 after a $158 exemption credit and takes home $58,927 a year, or $2,266 every two weeks. Two California specifics shape every paycheck: State Disability Insurance comes out of each check but is not in this estimate, and state withholding is set on Form DE 4, not the federal W-4. Read the California guide.
Maryland paychecks in brief
Maryland taxes wages in ten brackets from 2% to 6.5%, but nearly every middle-income dollar falls in the 4.75% bracket. A single filer earning $75,000 pays $3,197 to the state and takes home $58,395 before local tax. The defining Maryland feature is the county income tax every resident pays on top, based on where you live: 3.2% in Montgomery, Howard, and Baltimore, or $2,189 at that salary. Since 2025 Maryland also has new 6.25% and 6.5% brackets for high earners. Read the Maryland guide.
California vs Maryland: FAQ
Does California or Maryland have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $532 more a year in California than in Maryland ($44 a month). California has 10 brackets from 1% to 13.3% for 2026. For single filers the top 13.3% rate starts at $1,000,000 of taxable income. Maryland has 10 brackets from 2% to 6.5% for 2026. For single filers the top 6.5% rate starts at $1,000,000 of taxable income.
What salary in Maryland equals $75,000 in California?
To take home the same $58,927 that $75,000 leaves in California, you would need about $75,800 in Maryland, based on income, payroll, and state taxes only. Housing and other living costs are not included.
How much more do high earners keep in Maryland than in California?
At $150,000 the gap is $2,521 a year: $104,230 in California versus $106,751 in Maryland. Progressive brackets make the difference grow faster as income rises.
What if I live in California and work in Maryland?
California and Maryland do not have a reciprocity agreement, so Maryland withholds tax on wages earned there and California generally gives residents a credit for tax paid to the other state. You effectively pay the higher of the two rates.
Do local taxes change the California vs Maryland comparison?
Maryland has local wage taxes in places like Baltimore (3.2% (County)), Columbia (3.2% (Howard County)), Frederick (2.96% / 2.25% (Frederick County)). Those are on top of the statewide figures above, so check the city calculators if you live or work in one of them.