TACOMA, WA · MHA WA311 · effective January 1, 2026
Joint Base Lewis-McChord BAH Rates 2026
Official 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which falls in the Tacoma, WA housing area (WA311). An E-5 with dependents receives $2,556 per month here ($2,121 without dependents).
That is about 15% above the $2,225 average across all 338 military housing areas, ranking 87 of 338. BAH is tax-free, and most members also draw BAS at $476.95/month (enlisted).
E-4 with dependents
$2,370/mo
$2,034 without
E-5 with dependents
$2,556/mo
$2,121 without
E-6 with dependents
$2,919/mo
$2,199 without
E-7 with dependents
$2,994/mo
$2,376 without
O-1 with dependents
$2,607/mo
$2,178 without
O-3 with dependents
$3,123/mo
$2,784 without
2026 BAH rates at Joint Base Lewis-McChord — 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 | $2,370 | $2,034 |
| E-2 | $2,370 | $2,034 |
| E-3 | $2,370 | $2,034 |
| E-4 | $2,370 | $2,034 |
| E-5 | $2,556 | $2,121 |
| E-6 | $2,919 | $2,199 |
| E-7 | $2,994 | $2,376 |
| E-8 | $3,072 | $2,634 |
| E-9 | $3,180 | $2,736 |
| W-1 | $2,940 | $2,313 |
| W-2 | $3,024 | $2,631 |
| W-3 | $3,126 | $2,751 |
| W-4 | $3,201 | $2,931 |
| W-5 | $3,297 | $3,009 |
| O-1E | $3,006 | $2,553 |
| O-2E | $3,108 | $2,712 |
| O-3E | $3,216 | $2,913 |
| O-1 | $2,607 | $2,178 |
| O-2 | $2,916 | $2,496 |
| O-3 | $3,123 | $2,784 |
| O-4 | $3,324 | $2,991 |
| O-5 | $3,471 | $3,030 |
| O-6 | $3,501 | $3,102 |
| O-7 | $3,525 | $3,156 |
| O-8 | $3,525 | $3,156 |
| O-9 | $3,525 | $3,156 |
| O-10 | $3,525 | $3,156 |
Need a different location? Use the BAH calculator to look up any US ZIP code.
Which ZIP codes get the Joint Base Lewis-McChord rate
Housing area WA311 covers 100 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 21% above the without-dependents rate, and pay grades span $2,370 to $3,525 per month.
ZIP codes in WA311
98303, 98304, 98321, 98323, 98327, 98328, 98329, 98330, 98332, 98333, 98335, 98338, 98344, 98348, 98349, 98351, 98352, 98354, 98360, 98371, 98372, 98373, 98374, 98375, 98385, 98387, 98388, 98390, 98391, 98394, 98395, 98396, 98397, 98398, 98401, 98402, 98403, 98404, 98405, 98406, 98407, 98408, 98409, 98411, 98412, 98413, 98415, 98416, 98417, 98418, 98419, 98421, 98422, 98424, 98430, 98431, 98433, 98438, 98439, 98443 … and 40 more
Not listed? Look up any US ZIP with the BAH calculator.
Installations with similar BAH to Joint Base Lewis-McChord
An E-5 with dependents draws $2,556/month here — $30,672 a year, tax-free. These bases pay closest to the same:
| Installation | Area | E-5 w/ dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Base Lewis-McChord | Tacoma, WA | $2,556 |
| Fort Wainwright | Fairbanks, AK | $2,436 |
| Eglin AFB | Eglin AFB, FL | $2,433 |
| Naval Station Norfolk | Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA | $2,430 |
| MacDill AFB | Tampa, FL | $2,709 |
What these rates mean at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 2026?
An E-5 with dependents assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord receives $2,556 per month in 2026, or $2,121 without dependents. Joint Base Lewis-McChord sits in the TACOMA, WA military housing area (WA311). Rates vary by pay grade — the full table is on this page.
Is BAH at Joint Base Lewis-McChord higher or lower than average?
For an E-5 with dependents, Joint Base Lewis-McChord pays $2,556 against a $2,225 average across all 338 housing areas — about 15% above the national mean, ranking 87 of 338 areas.
Does BAH at Joint Base Lewis-McChord 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord 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 WA311 (TACOMA, WA), effective January 1, 2026. Installation-to-area mapping uses the official DTMO ZIP file (duty-station ZIP 98433). This page is for estimation; your finance office is the authority on your entitlement.