COLUMBIA/FORT JACKSON, SC · MHA SC260 · effective January 1, 2026
Fort Jackson BAH Rates 2026
Official 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for Fort Jackson, which falls in the Columbia/Fort Jackson, SC housing area (SC260). An E-5 with dependents receives $1,878 per month here ($1,647 without dependents).
That is about 16% below the $2,225 average across all 338 military housing areas, ranking 203 of 338. BAH is tax-free, and most members also draw BAS at $476.95/month (enlisted).
E-4 with dependents
$1,812/mo
$1,479 without
E-5 with dependents
$1,878/mo
$1,647 without
E-6 with dependents
$2,121/mo
$1,746 without
E-7 with dependents
$2,160/mo
$1,812 without
O-1 with dependents
$1,914/mo
$1,743 without
O-3 with dependents
$2,232/mo
$2,028 without
2026 BAH rates at Fort Jackson — all pay grades
Monthly, tax-free. O-1E/O-2E/O-3E are officers with prior enlisted service.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,812 | $1,479 |
| E-2 | $1,812 | $1,479 |
| E-3 | $1,812 | $1,479 |
| E-4 | $1,812 | $1,479 |
| E-5 | $1,878 | $1,647 |
| E-6 | $2,121 | $1,746 |
| E-7 | $2,160 | $1,812 |
| E-8 | $2,202 | $1,932 |
| E-9 | $2,310 | $1,995 |
| W-1 | $2,136 | $1,803 |
| W-2 | $2,175 | $1,929 |
| W-3 | $2,235 | $2,004 |
| W-4 | $2,340 | $2,121 |
| W-5 | $2,475 | $2,166 |
| O-1E | $2,163 | $1,875 |
| O-2E | $2,223 | $1,980 |
| O-3E | $2,361 | $2,109 |
| O-1 | $1,914 | $1,743 |
| O-2 | $2,118 | $1,860 |
| O-3 | $2,232 | $2,028 |
| O-4 | $2,517 | $2,151 |
| O-5 | $2,724 | $2,172 |
| O-6 | $2,745 | $2,211 |
| O-7 | $2,760 | $2,247 |
| O-8 | $2,760 | $2,247 |
| O-9 | $2,760 | $2,247 |
| O-10 | $2,760 | $2,247 |
Need a different location? Use the BAH calculator to look up any US ZIP code.
Which ZIP codes get the Fort Jackson rate
Housing area SC260 covers 66 ZIP codes. If your duty station falls in any of them you receive the rates on this page, whatever your home address. At this location the with-dependents rate runs 14% above the without-dependents rate, and pay grades span $1,812 to $2,760 per month.
ZIP codes in SC260
29002, 29006, 29009, 29016, 29020, 29021, 29032, 29033, 29036, 29044, 29045, 29052, 29053, 29054, 29061, 29063, 29070, 29071, 29072, 29073, 29074, 29078, 29112, 29123, 29147, 29160, 29169, 29170, 29171, 29172, 29175, 29177, 29201, 29202, 29203, 29204, 29205, 29206, 29207, 29208, 29209, 29210, 29211, 29212, 29214, 29215, 29216, 29217, 29218, 29219, 29220, 29221, 29222, 29223, 29224, 29225, 29226, 29227, 29228, 29229 … and 6 more
Not listed? Look up any US ZIP with the BAH calculator.
Installations with similar BAH to Fort Jackson
An E-5 with dependents draws $1,878/month here — $22,536 a year, tax-free. These bases pay closest to the same:
| Installation | Area | E-5 w/ dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Jackson | Columbia/Fort Jackson, SC | $1,878 |
| Joint Base San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | $1,869 |
| Fort Gordon | Fort Gordon / Augusta, GA | $1,890 |
| Naval Air Station Pensacola | Pensacola, FL | $1,863 |
| Davis-Monthan AFB | Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ | $1,905 |
What these rates mean at Fort Jackson
Your BAH is fixed by your duty-station ZIP code, pay grade and dependency status — not by your actual rent or where in the area you choose to live. Everyone assigned to Fort Jackson at the same grade and dependency status receives the identical amount, so housing cheaper than your allowance leaves money in your pocket, and anything above it comes out of your own.
Rates are re-set every January from fresh local rental surveys. Individual rate protection means your BAH will not fall while you stay at Fort Jackson in the same grade with the same dependency status, even if the published rate for the area drops.
To see BAH alongside basic pay and BAS for your total monthly compensation, use the military pay calculator, or check basic pay by rank on the 2026 military pay chart.
Frequently asked questions
What is the BAH rate at Fort Jackson in 2026?
An E-5 with dependents assigned to Fort Jackson receives $1,878 per month in 2026, or $1,647 without dependents. Fort Jackson sits in the COLUMBIA/FORT JACKSON, SC military housing area (SC260). Rates vary by pay grade — the full table is on this page.
Is BAH at Fort Jackson higher or lower than average?
For an E-5 with dependents, Fort Jackson pays $1,878 against a $2,225 average across all 338 housing areas — about 16% below the national mean, ranking 203 of 338 areas.
Does BAH at Fort Jackson depend on where I actually live?
No. Your BAH is set by your duty-station ZIP code, not your home address, so everyone assigned to Fort Jackson at the same grade and dependency status receives the same rate. If you rent for less than your BAH you keep the difference; if you spend more, you cover it.
BAH rates at other installations
Source
Rates are the 2026 tables published by the Defense Travel Management Office for military housing area SC260 (COLUMBIA/FORT JACKSON, SC), effective January 1, 2026. Installation-to-area mapping uses the official DTMO ZIP file (duty-station ZIP 29207). This page is for estimation; your finance office is the authority on your entitlement.