Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Political Scientists actually take home in Maryland?
Progressive (up to 5.8%) — 29.7% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Political Scientists earning $153,380 in Maryland (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $153,380 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$26,349 | 17.2% |
| Maryland State Income Tax | -$7,445 | 4.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$9,509 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$2,224 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$45,529 | 29.7% |
| Take-Home Pay | $107,850 | 70.3% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Political Scientists in Maryland.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $101,400 | -$26,673 | $74,726 | 26.3% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $115,650 | -$31,621 | $84,028 | 27.3% |
| Median (P50) | $153,380 | -$45,529 | $107,850 | 29.7% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $183,080 | -$55,664 | $127,415 | 30.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $195,190 | -$59,413 | $135,776 | 30.4% |
After federal income tax ($26,349), state tax ($7,445), and FICA ($11,733), a Political Scientists in Maryland takes home $107,850 per year — or $8,987 per month. The effective tax rate of 29.7% is moderate compared to the national range.
A Political Scientists in Maryland loses 29.7% of gross pay to taxes — higher than the ~25% national midpoint. Of the $153,380 gross, $107,851 lands in the paycheck after federal ($26,350), state ($7,446), and FICA ($11,734) withholding.
Maryland uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Political Scientists salary the state tax works out to $7,446 (4.9% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal income tax ($26,350) accounts for 58% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $11,734 (26%), and state tax the remaining $7,446 (16%).
The state-tax gap is substantial: a Political Scientists earning this gross in a no-income-tax state would net about $115,297 — an extra $7,446 (6.9%) annually compared with Maryland.
For Political Scientists after-tax pay, Maryland ranks #2 of 13 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $107,851 net/year works out to $8,988/month or $4,148/bi-weekly for this Political Scientists in Maryland — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Political Scientists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Maryland ranks #2 out of 13 states for Political Scientists after-tax take-home pay.
A Political Scientists in Maryland earning a median salary of $153,380 will take home approximately $107,850 per year after federal income tax ($26,349), state income tax ($7,445), and FICA ($11,733). That is $8,987 per month or $4,148 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Political Scientists in Maryland is 29.7%, broken down as: federal income tax 17.2%, Maryland state tax 4.9%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Maryland has a progressive (up to 5.8%). On a Political Scientists's median salary of $153,380, the state income tax amounts to $7,445 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.9%.
After all taxes, a Political Scientists in Maryland takes home approximately $8,987 per month, or about $51.85 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 $153,380 for Political Scientists 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 — $107,850/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
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