Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Physicists actually take home in Maryland?
Progressive (up to 5.8%) — 30.4% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Physicists earning $174,390 in Maryland (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $174,390 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$31,392 | 18.0% |
| Maryland State Income Tax | -$8,601 | 4.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$10,453 | 6.0% |
| Medicare | -$2,528 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$52,975 | 30.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $121,414 | 69.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Physicists in Maryland.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $105,560 | -$28,115 | $77,444 | 26.6% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $132,560 | -$37,838 | $94,721 | 28.5% |
| Median (P50) | $174,390 | -$52,975 | $121,414 | 30.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $195,190 | -$59,413 | $135,776 | 30.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $219,450 | -$68,128 | $151,321 | 31.0% |
A Physicists in Maryland faces a combined 30.4% effective tax rate, taking home $121,414 out of $174,390. The progressive (up to 5.8%) adds $8,601 on top of federal and FICA taxes. In a no-income-tax state, this salary would yield approximately $130,016 — a difference of $8,601/year.
A Physicists in Maryland loses 30.4% of gross pay to taxes — higher than the ~25% national midpoint. Of the $174,390 gross, $121,415 lands in the paycheck after federal ($31,392), state ($8,601), and FICA ($12,982) withholding.
Maryland uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Physicists salary the state tax works out to $8,601 (4.9% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal income tax ($31,392) accounts for 59% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $12,982 (25%), and state tax the remaining $8,601 (16%).
The state-tax gap is substantial: a Physicists earning this gross in a no-income-tax state would net about $130,016 — an extra $8,601 (7.1%) annually compared with Maryland.
Maryland ranks #14 of 43 states for Physicists after-tax pay — comfortably in the upper half.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $121,415 net/year works out to $10,118/month or $4,670/bi-weekly for this Physicists in Maryland — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Physicists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Maryland ranks #14 out of 43 states for Physicists after-tax take-home pay.
A Physicists in Maryland earning a median salary of $174,390 will take home approximately $121,414 per year after federal income tax ($31,392), state income tax ($8,601), and FICA ($12,981). That is $10,117 per month or $4,669 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Physicists in Maryland is 30.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 18.0%, Maryland state tax 4.9%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.4%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Maryland has a progressive (up to 5.8%). On a Physicists's median salary of $174,390, the state income tax amounts to $8,601 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.9%.
After all taxes, a Physicists in Maryland takes home approximately $10,117 per month, or about $58.37 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $174,390 for Physicists in Maryland, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Maryland state income tax (progressive (up to 5.8%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $121,414/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR