How Montgomery County taxes your pay
Montgomery County tax is a residence tax. It applies to everyone who lives in the county, including the many residents who work in Washington, DC, or Northern Virginia.
DC does not tax people who live outside it, and Virginia does not withhold from Maryland residents who meet its reciprocity conditions, so for most commuters the only state and local lines are Maryland and Montgomery County.
Montgomery County tax rates for 2026
- Montgomery County local income tax: 3.2% of Maryland taxable income for people who live here. People who live outside Maryland and work here pay no county tax; Maryland charges them its special nonresident tax of 2.25% instead, which the calculator shows on the local line.
| Salary | Live and work here | Work here, live elsewhere in Maryland | Take-home, living here | Take-home with no local tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,069 | $0 | $31,665 | $32,734 |
| $60,000 | $1,709 | $0 | $46,145 | $47,853 |
| $75,000 | $2,189 | $0 | $56,155 | $58,343 |
| $100,000 | $2,989 | $0 | $71,755 | $74,744 |
| $150,000 | $4,589 | $0 | $102,236 | $106,825 |
| $250,000 | $7,789 | $0 | $162,944 | $170,733 |
Someone who works in Montgomery County but lives elsewhere in Maryland pays nothing here: the tax goes by residence. They pay their own city or county's tax, if it has one.
Worked example: the Maryland median wage in Montgomery County
The median annual wage in Maryland is $59,510: half of all jobs pay more and half pay less, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey for May 2025 (all occupations; survey date May 31, 2025). Paid every two weeks as a single filer, with no 401(k) or benefits, that salary works out like this in Montgomery County, Maryland.
| Line | Each paycheck | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,288.85 | $59,510.00 |
| Federal income tax | $190.82 | $4,961.30 |
| Social Security | $141.91 | $3,689.65 |
| Medicare | $33.19 | $862.94 |
| Maryland income tax | $96.66 | $2,513.16 |
| Montgomery County local income tax | $65.12 | $1,693.12 |
| Take-home pay | $1,761.15 | $45,789.83 |
You keep 76.9% of gross pay. Of the $13,720 withheld, federal income tax is the largest part at $4,961, followed by Social Security at $3,690.
Without the local tax the same salary would leave $47,483 a year in Maryland, so living and working in Montgomery County costs $1,693 a year, or 2.8% of pay.
Live in Montgomery County, work in Washington, DC
On the same $59,510 salary, take-home pay in this case comes to $45,790 a year, the same as living and working in Montgomery County.
| Line | Year |
|---|---|
| the District of Columbia income tax | $0 |
| Maryland income tax | $2,513 |
| Montgomery County local income tax | $1,693 |
| Take-home pay | $45,790 |
Enter both states in the calculator ("I live in a different state") to run this with your own pay.
Montgomery County paycheck questions
How much is Montgomery County local tax on $75,000 a year?
$2,189 for the year if you live and work in Montgomery County, single and paid every two weeks, and $0 if you work there but live elsewhere in Maryland. That leaves $56,155 after all taxes, against $58,343 with no local tax.
Do I pay Montgomery County tax if I live there but work somewhere else?
Yes. Montgomery County taxes residents on their pay wherever they work.
What is the Maryland median wage after tax in Montgomery County?
The median wage in Maryland is $59,510 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). Living and working in Montgomery County, that leaves $45,790 a year after federal, Maryland, FICA and $1,693 of local tax.
What does a paycheck look like in Montgomery County?
At the Maryland median wage, paid every two weeks, each paycheck is $2,288.85 before tax and $1,761.15 after it. $65.12 of that goes to Montgomery County, next to $190.82 of federal income tax and $96.66 for Maryland.
How much Montgomery County tax is withheld on $250,000?
$7,789 for the year living and working there, which leaves $162,944 after every tax, against $170,733 with no local tax.
What if I live in Montgomery County and work in Washington, DC?
On $59,510, take-home pay comes to $45,790 a year, against $45,790 living and working in Montgomery County. Enter both states in the calculator to see each line.
Sources
Rules checked . How we calculate.