Military BAHRATES

2026 Basic Allowance for Housing · ZZ540

BAH rates for County Cost Group 540, 2026

County Cost Group 540

ZZ540 · 2026 BAH

$1,344/mo

E-5 · with dependents

$16,128 a year · −0.7% vs 2025

Without dependents: $1,086/mo

Dependency status

County Cost Group 540 (code ZZ540) sets BAH for 366 ZIP codes outside DTMO's surveyed housing areas, mostly in West Virginia, Nebraska, Iowa, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana. In 2026 an E-5 with dependents there receives $1,344 a month; without dependents, $1,086.

$1,242
Lowest grade
E-1 with dependents; O-7+ gets $2,232
−0.4%
Avg change vs 2025
all 24 grades, with dependents
#36 of 39
E-5 rank
$153 below the median of county cost groups
366
ZIP codes
mapped to ZZ540 by DTMO

2026 BAH by rank, with and without dependents

Monthly rates for every pay grade; your grade is highlighted. "E" officers (O-1E to O-3E) have more than four years of prior enlisted or warrant service. Change compares with-dependents rates to 2025.

DTMO’s official BAH calculator, Department of Defense (opens in a new tab) ↗
GradeWith dependentsWithout dependentsvs 2025
(with)
E-1Private (PV1) (Army), Airman Basic (AF)
$1,242
$1,005
−1.0%
E-2Private (PV2) (Army), Airman (AF)
$1,242
$1,005
−1.0%
E-3Private First Class (Army), Airman First Class (AF)
$1,242
$1,005
−1.0%
E-4Specialist / Corporal (Army), Senior Airman (AF)
$1,242
$1,005
−1.0%
E-5Sergeant (Army), Staff Sergeant (AF)
$1,344
$1,086
−0.7%
E-6Staff Sergeant (Army), Technical Sergeant (AF)
$1,641
$1,230
+0.2%
E-7Sergeant First Class (Army), Master Sergeant (AF)
$1,707
$1,281
0.0%
E-8Master Sergeant / First Sergeant (Army), Senior Master Sergeant (AF)
$1,782
$1,407
+0.2%
E-9Sergeant Major (Army), Chief Master Sergeant (AF)
$1,890
$1,488
0.0%
W-1Warrant Officer 1 / Warrant Officer 1
$1,659
$1,245
+0.2%
W-2Chief Warrant Officer 2
$1,737
$1,404
0.0%
W-3Chief Warrant Officer 3
$1,830
$1,503
+0.2%
W-4Chief Warrant Officer 4
$1,911
$1,650
−0.3%
W-5Chief Warrant Officer 5
$2,016
$1,722
−0.6%
O-1EO-1 with 4+ yrs prior enlisted service
$1,719
$1,341
+0.4%
O-2EO-2 with 4+ yrs prior enlisted service
$1,815
$1,470
0.0%
O-3EO-3 with 4+ yrs prior enlisted service
$1,926
$1,632
−0.3%
O-1Second Lieutenant
$1,386
$1,140
−0.6%
O-2First Lieutenant
$1,638
$1,314
+0.2%
O-3Captain
$1,827
$1,530
+0.2%
O-4Major
$2,046
$1,704
−0.9%
O-5Lieutenant Colonel
$2,205
$1,740
−1.1%
O-6Colonel
$2,220
$1,806
−1.2%
O-7+O-7 and above
$2,232
$1,836
−1.3%

BAH since 2022

E-5 with dependents moved from $1,161 in 2022 to $1,344 in 2026 (+15.8%).

Monthly BAH in County Cost Group 540, 2022–2026

US dollars a month, with dependents, two common pay grades

E-5O-3
$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,00020222023202420252026E-5 with dependents 2022: $1,161E-5 with dependents 2023: $1,254E-5 with dependents 2024: $1,287E-5 with dependents 2025: $1,353E-5 with dependents 2026: $1,344O-3 with dependents 2022: $1,503O-3 with dependents 2023: $1,692O-3 with dependents 2024: $1,740O-3 with dependents 2025: $1,824O-3 with dependents 2026: $1,827$1,827O-3 with dependents$1,344E-5 with dependents
$1,000$1,200$1,400$1,600$1,800$2,000202220242026E-5 with dependents 2022: $1,161E-5 with dependents 2023: $1,254E-5 with dependents 2024: $1,287E-5 with dependents 2025: $1,353E-5 with dependents 2026: $1,344O-3 with dependents 2022: $1,503O-3 with dependents 2023: $1,692O-3 with dependents 2024: $1,740O-3 with dependents 2025: $1,824O-3 with dependents 2026: $1,827$1,827$1,344
Source: DTMO annual BAH rate files; rates in effect 1 January each year.
View as table: every grade, 2022–2026

With dependents

Grade20222023202420252026Change
E-1$1,083$1,161$1,182$1,254$1,242+14.7%
E-2$1,083$1,161$1,182$1,254$1,242+14.7%
E-3$1,083$1,161$1,182$1,254$1,242+14.7%
E-4$1,083$1,161$1,182$1,254$1,242+14.7%
E-5$1,161$1,254$1,287$1,353$1,344+15.8%
E-6$1,356$1,515$1,563$1,638$1,641+21.0%
E-7$1,410$1,578$1,626$1,707$1,707+21.1%
E-8$1,470$1,647$1,698$1,779$1,782+21.2%
E-9$1,557$1,746$1,803$1,890$1,890+21.4%
W-1$1,374$1,533$1,581$1,656$1,659+20.7%
W-2$1,437$1,608$1,659$1,737$1,737+20.9%
W-3$1,506$1,695$1,743$1,827$1,830+21.5%
W-4$1,578$1,773$1,827$1,917$1,911+21.1%
W-5$1,659$1,863$1,932$2,028$2,016+21.5%
O-1E$1,422$1,587$1,635$1,713$1,719+20.9%
O-2E$1,494$1,680$1,728$1,815$1,815+21.5%
O-3E$1,584$1,782$1,842$1,932$1,926+21.6%
O-1$1,191$1,293$1,326$1,395$1,386+16.4%
O-2$1,359$1,512$1,560$1,635$1,638+20.5%
O-3$1,503$1,692$1,740$1,824$1,827+21.6%
O-4$1,683$1,893$1,965$2,064$2,046+21.6%
O-5$1,815$2,037$2,124$2,229$2,205+21.5%
O-6$1,824$2,052$2,139$2,247$2,220+21.7%
O-7+$1,836$2,064$2,151$2,262$2,232+21.6%

Without dependents

Grade20222023202420252026Change
E-1$849$897$915$987$1,005+18.4%
E-2$849$897$915$987$1,005+18.4%
E-3$849$897$915$987$1,005+18.4%
E-4$849$897$915$987$1,005+18.4%
E-5$945$999$1,014$1,089$1,086+14.9%
E-6$1,011$1,134$1,170$1,227$1,230+21.7%
E-7$1,083$1,185$1,221$1,281$1,281+18.3%
E-8$1,197$1,311$1,347$1,416$1,407+17.5%
E-9$1,260$1,380$1,422$1,491$1,488+18.1%
W-1$1,068$1,149$1,188$1,242$1,245+16.6%
W-2$1,203$1,308$1,344$1,413$1,404+16.7%
W-3$1,266$1,386$1,434$1,503$1,503+18.7%
W-4$1,368$1,524$1,575$1,647$1,650+20.6%
W-5$1,422$1,593$1,641$1,722$1,722+21.1%
O-1E$1,161$1,248$1,284$1,350$1,341+15.5%
O-2E$1,248$1,365$1,404$1,473$1,470+17.8%
O-3E$1,353$1,506$1,554$1,629$1,632+20.6%
O-1$1,002$1,062$1,077$1,155$1,140+13.8%
O-2$1,140$1,224$1,254$1,326$1,314+15.3%
O-3$1,287$1,416$1,458$1,533$1,530+18.9%
O-4$1,407$1,572$1,623$1,701$1,704+21.1%
O-5$1,437$1,614$1,662$1,740$1,740+21.1%
O-6$1,491$1,677$1,722$1,809$1,806+21.1%
O-7+$1,503$1,698$1,746$1,839$1,836+22.2%

How County Cost Group 540 compares

E-5 with dependents is #36 of 39 county cost groups. Each tick is one area.

E-5 with dependents, every county cost group, 2026

US dollars a month

County Cost Group 510: $1,329County Cost Group 520: $1,332County Cost Group 530: $1,338County Cost Group 550: $1,353County Cost Group 560: $1,362County Cost Group 570: $1,371County Cost Group 580: $1,380County Cost Group 590: $1,392County Cost Group 600: $1,404County Cost Group 610: $1,410County Cost Group 620: $1,419County Cost Group 630: $1,425County Cost Group 640: $1,434County Cost Group 650: $1,443County Cost Group 660: $1,449County Cost Group 670: $1,461County Cost Group 680: $1,470County Cost Group 690: $1,482County Cost Group 700: $1,497County Cost Group 710: $1,515County Cost Group 720: $1,536County Cost Group 730: $1,557County Cost Group 740: $1,590County Cost Group 750: $1,638County Cost Group 760: $1,686County Cost Group 770: $1,752County Cost Group 780: $1,815County Cost Group 790: $1,890County Cost Group 800: $1,962County Cost Group 810: $2,064County Cost Group 820: $2,160County Cost Group 830: $2,250County Cost Group 840: $2,322County Cost Group 850: $2,409County Cost Group 860: $2,487County Cost Group 870: $2,652County Cost Group 880: $2,850County Cost Group 890: $3,156Lowest $1,329Highest $3,156County Cost Group 540$1,344
County Cost Group 510: $1,329County Cost Group 520: $1,332County Cost Group 530: $1,338County Cost Group 550: $1,353County Cost Group 560: $1,362County Cost Group 570: $1,371County Cost Group 580: $1,380County Cost Group 590: $1,392County Cost Group 600: $1,404County Cost Group 610: $1,410County Cost Group 620: $1,419County Cost Group 630: $1,425County Cost Group 640: $1,434County Cost Group 650: $1,443County Cost Group 660: $1,449County Cost Group 670: $1,461County Cost Group 680: $1,470County Cost Group 690: $1,482County Cost Group 700: $1,497County Cost Group 710: $1,515County Cost Group 720: $1,536County Cost Group 730: $1,557County Cost Group 740: $1,590County Cost Group 750: $1,638County Cost Group 760: $1,686County Cost Group 770: $1,752County Cost Group 780: $1,815County Cost Group 790: $1,890County Cost Group 800: $1,962County Cost Group 810: $2,064County Cost Group 820: $2,160County Cost Group 830: $2,250County Cost Group 840: $2,322County Cost Group 850: $2,409County Cost Group 860: $2,487County Cost Group 870: $2,652County Cost Group 880: $2,850County Cost Group 890: $3,156Lowest $1,329Highest $3,156County Cost Group 540$1,344
Source: DTMO 2026 BAH rate files. E-5 rates in every area.

About this housing area

Counties covered

Counties of the ZIP codes DTMO maps to ZZ540 (largest overlap per ZIP, Census 2020 ZCTA file), with ZIP counts.

  • Perry County, KY 21
  • Mercer County, WV 17
  • Henry County, IN 15
  • Jackson County, IL 14
  • Whiteside County, IL 12
  • Monroe County, WV 11
  • Walsh County, ND 11
  • Thayer County, NE 11
  • Jones County, IA 10
  • Gilmer County, WV 8

and 58 more counties.

All 366 ZIP codes in this housing area

24701 24712 24714 24715 24724 24729 24731 24732 24733 24736 24737 24738 24739 24740 24747 24751 24910 24918 24941 24945 24951 24963 24974 24976 24983 24984 24985 24993 25267 25820 25841 25922 25971 26342 26351 26384 26430 26443 26611 26636 26638 27818 27855 27910 27922 27942 27986 28737 28749 28752 28761 28762 29056 29340 29341 29342 29518 29556 29564 29580 29590 29620 29628 29638 29639 29702 37110 37111 37357 37378 37394 38077 38079 38080 38222 38223 38224 38231 38236 38242 38251 38256 38550 38581 38606 38614 38617 38619 38620 38621 38622 38623 38631 38639 38643 38644 38645 38646 38658 38665 38666 38739 38767 38964 39051 39074 39080 39087 39092 39094 39098 39109 39117 39152 39171 39189 39359 40311 40350 40410 40444 40461 40981 41367 41701 41702 41712 41713 41719 41721 41722 41723 41727 41729 41731 41735 41736 41739 41745 41746 41751 41754 41760 41763 41773 41774 41778 42025 42029 42044 42048 42204 42216 42220 42234 42280 42286 46104 46115 46127 46146 46148 46150 46155 46156 46173 46910 46912 46922 46931 46935 46939 46945 46975 47337 47344 47351 47352 47356 47360 47361 47362 47366 47384 47385 47386 47387 47388 47553 47581 50008 50052 50060 50123 50147 50149 50165 50254 50801 50830 50831 50842 50861 51232 51249 51345 51350 51354 52101 52132 52133 52144 52149 52161 52165 52168 52205 52212 52252 52305 52310 52312 52320 52321 52323 52362 52583 52590 57217 57225 57236 57258 57271 57278 57322 58210 58227 58229 58231 58233 58237 58243 58250 58261 58270 58273 61037 61071 61081 61230 61243 61250 61251 61252 61261 61270 61277 61283 62434 62824 62839 62858 62879 62899 62901 62902 62903 62907 62916 62924 62927 62932 62940 62942 62950 62958 62966 62975 62994 63931 63935 63939 63942 63953 63955 66761 66777 66783 67420 67422 67430 67436 67446 67452 67467 67478 67484 67485 67871 67880 68303 68315 68322 68325 68326 68327 68335 68337 68340 68355 68362 68370 68375 68376 68429 68431 68433 68437 68442 68457 68638 68640 68651 68654 68662 68666 68815 68837 68859 68862 69001 69020 69026 69034 69036 69147 69148 69154 69163 71218 71232 71259 71269 71279 74331 74335 74339 74343 74354 74355 74358 74360 74363 74370 74440 74462 74472 74525 74533 74540 74552 74555 74569 74941 74943 74944

Questions

What is the 2026 BAH for an E-5 at County Cost Group 540?
$1,344 a month with dependents and $1,086 without dependents, according to DTMO's 2026 rate files for MHA ZZ540.
How much is E-4 and E-6 BAH at County Cost Group 540?
E-4: $1,242 with dependents, $1,005 without. E-6: $1,641 with dependents, $1,230 without.
Did BAH go up at County Cost Group 540 in 2026?
With-dependents rates changed by −0.4% on average across the 24 pay grades compared with 2025. If a published rate falls, individual rate protection keeps members who stay at the same duty station, grade and dependency status at their previous rate.
Does BAH depend on where I live or where I am stationed?
On your permanent duty station's ZIP code, not where you choose to live. Members are free to live anywhere; the rate is fixed by the duty location, pay grade and whether you have dependents.
When will 2027 BAH rates for County Cost Group 540 be published?
DTMO normally releases next year's rates in December, effective 1 January. See 2027 BAH rates.

Sources

  1. Defense Travel Management Office, BAH rates, all locations and all pay grades, 2026 (ASCII files), BAH Rate Lookup. Downloaded 2026-10-08.
  2. DTMO, 2025 and earlier rate files (same page), used for year-over-year change.

Confirm your entitlement with your finance office. How these tables are built and checked.