District of Columbia vs Maryland Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $232 more a year in Maryland than in District of Columbia ($19 a month).
District of Columbia
4% - 10.75% state income tax
$58,163
take-home on $75,000 · $4,847/month
42nd of 51 states for take-home pay
District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia and Maryland by salary
| Salary | District of Columbia | Maryland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,086 | $32,786 | $300 more in District of Columbia |
| $50,000 | $40,521 | $40,346 | $175 more in District of Columbia |
| $60,000 | $47,936 | $47,906 | $30 more in District of Columbia |
| $75,000 | $58,163 | $58,395 | $232 more in Maryland |
| $100,000 | $73,648 | $74,796 | $1,148 more in Maryland |
| $125,000 | $89,046 | $91,006 | $1,959 more in Maryland |
| $150,000 | $104,009 | $106,751 | $2,742 more in Maryland |
| $200,000 | $134,895 | $139,104 | $4,209 more in Maryland |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in District of Columbia you would need about $74,650 in Maryland; to match $75,000 in Maryland you would need about $75,350 in District of Columbia.
How District of Columbia and Maryland tax wages
| 2026 | District of Columbia | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 7 brackets from 4% to 10.75% | 10 brackets from 2% to 6.5% |
| Top rate | 10.75% | 6.5% |
| Standard deduction | $16,100 single | $3,400 single |
| State tax on $75k | $3,429 (4.6%) | $3,197 (4.3%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | Yes (6 modeled) |
| Reciprocity | Maryland, Virginia | 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 District of Columbia and Maryland
Moving from District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia
Moving into DC from Virginia changes little for a $75,000 earner, who keeps $69 more as a District resident, and moving from Maryland usually saves money once county tax is counted. Higher earners feel the 8.5% bracket that runs from $60,000 to $250,000. File Form D-4 with your employer as soon as you move, and keep proof of your move date for the part-year return.
District of Columbia paychecks in brief
The District of Columbia taxes only the people who live there. Congress bars DC from taxing commuters, so workers from Maryland and Virginia pay income tax only to their home state. For DC residents, seven brackets run from 4% to 10.75%, and a single filer earning $75,000 owes $3,429 to the District and takes home $58,163 a year, or $2,237 every two weeks. Above $60,000 the rate jumps to 8.5%, which is where DC gets expensive. Read the District of Columbia 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.
District of Columbia vs Maryland: FAQ
Does District of Columbia or Maryland have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $232 more a year in Maryland than in District of Columbia ($19 a month). District of Columbia has 7 brackets from 4% to 10.75% for 2026. For single filers the top 10.75% 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 District of Columbia?
To take home the same $58,163 that $75,000 leaves in District of Columbia, you would need about $74,650 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 District of Columbia?
At $150,000 the gap is $2,742 a year: $104,009 in District of Columbia versus $106,751 in Maryland. Progressive brackets make the difference grow faster as income rises.
Do District of Columbia and Maryland have a reciprocity agreement?
Yes. If you live in one of these states and work in the other, you can usually file a nonresident exemption form with your employer so only your home state withholds income tax.
Do local taxes change the District of Columbia 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.