Maryland Severance Pay Calculator
Estimate your Maryland severance after federal, state, and FICA tax — pre-set with the Maryland rate.
Weekly pay: $1,250.00
$5,000.00
Gross severance
Est. taxes: ~$1,770.00 (35.4%)
$3,230.00
Estimated net take-home
Estimates only. PTO payout rights and tax withholding vary by state, employer policy, and individual circumstances. This is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult your state labor department or a qualified professional. See our methodology.
Tax figures assume eligible flat supplemental withholding: 22% federal below the annual $1 million threshold, payroll taxes, and an illustrative state rate. Employers may use other permitted methods. Prior wages are assumed to be zero unless entered; state rates and individual payroll deductions need confirmation with payroll.
Severance pay in Maryland
Compare a severance offer in Maryland
Compare offers of two, four, or eight weeks using a $65,000 annual salary. The examples price an offer; they do not choose the number of weeks an employer owes.
Read the severance agreement and check applicable closure or mass-layoff rules. Confirm payment dates, benefit continuation, and any release before comparing the cash amounts.
Earned wages and payable vacation are separate from the severance offer. Report severance when claiming unemployment and ask the responsible agency how the payment is allocated.
| Weeks offered | Gross | Estimated net |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $2,500.00 | $1,615.00 |
| 4 | $5,000.00 | $3,230.00 |
| 8 | $10,000.00 | $6,460.00 |
Assumes eligible flat federal supplemental withholding and a 5.8% illustrative state rate, plus payroll taxes. Your employer's method and prior wages can change the result. See assumptions and limitations.
State source: Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service. This is an agency resource; it does not independently verify every estimate or settle eligibility.
Official Maryland Wage Claim Resources
If you are denied your legal severance payout or have wage disputes under state labor codes, you can contact the official agency below:
- Wage Agency: Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service
- Phone Support: (410) 767-2357
- Official Website: https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/
Maryland example: a $20,000 severance package has about $4,400 federal and $1,150 state tax withheld, plus FICA \u2014 roughly $12,920 net.
Final pay & your rights in Maryland
Severance is usually paid with or near your final paycheck. In Maryland, a final paycheck is generally due — if fired: Next scheduled payday; if you quit: Next scheduled payday — though severance itself follows your agreement’s timeline, not this deadline. Maryland’s statute of limitations for unpaid-wage claims is 3 years (reference: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-505); unpaid wages are pursued through the Maryland Department of Labor, Employment Standards Service. If your state also requires a Maryland PTO payout, that is separate from and in addition to any severance — estimate it with the free PTO payout calculator.
Severance & unemployment in Maryland
The unemployment agency determines whether severance affects Maryland unemployment benefits based on the applicable rules, payment dates, and weeks the payment covers. Report severance when you file your claim. See the main severance guide for how the math and taxes work.
Frequently asked questions
How much is severance taxed in Maryland?+
Severance is a supplemental wage: 22% flat federal withholding, an estimated 5.8% Maryland supplemental rate, and 7.65% FICA. On a $20,000 package in Maryland, that leaves roughly $12,920 net.
Is severance pay required in Maryland?+
For a separation in Maryland, check the employer's written severance policy, contract, and any applicable closure or mass-layoff law. Severance eligibility is separate from earned wages and unused vacation. A weeks-of-pay estimate does not determine a legal entitlement.
Does severance affect unemployment in Maryland?+
It can. How Maryland treats severance depends on whether it is a one-time lump sum or salary continuation, and the week it covers. Report any severance when you file your Maryland unemployment claim and let the state determine the effect.
When must my final paycheck be paid in Maryland?+
Final-pay timing in Maryland is set by state law; the statute of limitations for unpaid-wage claims is 3 years. Reference: Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 3-505. Severance paid with your final check follows your agreement, not a state deadline.