2026 State Take-Home Comparison
Maryland vs Pennsylvania Take-Home Pay (2026)
Moving from Maryland to Pennsylvania: paycheck difference after taxes
On a $75,000 salary, moving from Maryland to Pennsylvania means earning $942 more per year after taxes — about $36 more per biweekly paycheck. Federal income tax and FICA stay the same; the difference comes from state and local tax.
What changes: State income tax and local wage taxes. What stays the same: Federal income tax and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) are the same in every state for the same salary and filing status. Estimates based on $75,000 salary, single, biweekly. Use the calculator below for your numbers.
Maryland vs Pennsylvania — Take-Home Pay Overview
Maryland uses a progressive state income tax with multiple brackets, while Pennsylvania uses a flat state income tax.
For workers comparing the two states, that means Pennsylvania generally leaves more paycheck income after withholding than Maryland under the same salary assumptions.
| Salary | Maryland Take-Home | Pennsylvania Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,299 | $40,820 |
| $75,000 | $58,349 | $59,290 |
| $100,000 | $74,749 | $76,110 |
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $1,362 more per year in Pennsylvania than in Maryland.
$100,000 Salary: Maryland vs Pennsylvania
| Tax / Component | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | same |
| State Income Tax | $4,432 | $3,070 | +$1,362 |
| Social Security | $6,200 | $6,200 | same |
| Medicare | $1,450 | $1,450 | same |
| Take-Home Pay | $74,749 | $76,110 | -$1,362 |
$100,000 — Rent affordability: Maryland vs Pennsylvania
| Metric | Maryland | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Net take-home / year | $74,749 | $76,110 |
| Net take-home / month | $6,229 | $6,343 |
| Median 1BR rent (HUD) | $1,150 | $850 |
| Rent as % of take-home | 18.5% ✓ | 13.4% ✓ |
Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2025 · Spending: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2023
$75,000 Salary: Maryland vs Pennsylvania
| Tax / Component | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | $7,670 | $7,670 | same |
| State Income Tax | $3,244 | $2,303 | +$942 |
| Social Security | $4,650 | $4,650 | same |
| Medicare | $1,088 | $1,088 | same |
| Take-Home Pay | $58,349 | $59,290 | -$942 |
Take-Home Pay Comparison: Maryland vs Pennsylvania
For a single filer at $100,000, Pennsylvania puts $1,361.5 more per year in your pocket than Maryland — $113 per month.
| Annual Salary | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Annual Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,298.5 | $40,820 | $-521.5 (Maryland) |
| $75,000 | $58,348.5 | $59,290 | $-941.5 (Maryland) |
| $100,000 | $74,748.5 | $76,110 | $-1,361.5 (Maryland) |
| $125,000 | $91,035.5 | $92,866 | $-1,830.5 (Maryland) |
| $150,000 | $106,824.5 | $109,186 | $-2,361.5 (Maryland) |
After subtracting median 1-bedroom rent, Pennsylvania residents keep $62,310 per year vs $55,548.5 in Maryland. See full cost-adjusted ranking →
Calculate your exact Maryland vs Pennsylvania take-home →Calculation assumptions
- Standard withholding per IRS Publication 15-T (2026)
- Social Security wage base: $184,500 (SSA 2026)
- No pre-tax deductions, no post-tax deductions
- Filing status: Single, one job
- Standard W-4 withholding (no additional withholding elections)
- Actual paycheck may differ based on employer setup, benefits, or W-4 elections
Maryland vs Pennsylvania tax questions
Which state has lower taxes, Maryland or Pennsylvania?
Both Maryland and Pennsylvania have state income taxes. On the default $75,000 single-filer estimate, Pennsylvania has $942 less state income tax than the other state.
How much more do I take home in Maryland vs Pennsylvania on a $75,000 salary?
For the $75,000 engine-backed comparison on this page, Pennsylvania leaves $942 more annual take-home pay, or about $78 per month.
Does moving from Maryland to Pennsylvania save money on taxes?
Moving between states changes state income tax withholding but not federal taxes or FICA. In the default $75,000 comparison, the annual take-home gap is $942 ($78 per month), before cost-of-living differences.
Is Maryland or Pennsylvania better for take-home pay?
For the default $75,000 single-filer calculation, Pennsylvania has the higher take-home pay by $942 per year. Cost of living can still change which state is better for your household budget.
Calculate your take-home pay in each state:
Calculate your exact take-home pay
- Use the Maryland paycheck calculator →
- Use the Pennsylvania paycheck calculator →
- Compare custom salaries interactively →
- Compare full job offers with cost-of-living adjustment