Maryland nanny & household employment guide
Everything a family or nanny needs to know about household employment law in Maryland: overtime, payroll taxes, and workers' compensation. This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice.
Overtime rules in Maryland
- Live-out overtime begins after 40 hours/week.
- Live-in overtime begins after 40 hours/week.
- Overtime multiplier: 1.5x.
Maryland's Domestic Worker Bill of Rights requires 1.5x after 40 hours for live-out and live-in workers.
Payroll taxes in Maryland
Federal (applies everywhere): Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% from both employer and employee, plus FUTA at 0.6% on the first $7,000 (employer only).
Maryland state taxes:
- State unemployment (SUTA, employer): 2.60% on the first $8,500 of wages.
- State income tax (employee, estimated effective): ~4.75%.
Workers' compensation in Maryland
Required under Maryland's Domestic Worker law for any household employee.
Put it in writing
Once you have the rules straight, document the terms. The free Kindred offer letter generator builds a professional nanny offer letter covering pay, overtime, PTO, and duties. See also the nanny tax calculator and take-home pay calculator.
Hiring in Maryland? Post a job free on Kindred or see what nannies earn.