Fort Carson
Colorado Springs, Colorado · Army
Fort Carson — 'The Mountain Post' — is home to the 4th Infantry Division, located at the base of the Rocky Mountains with Pikes Peak as a backdrop.
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Quick reference: 2026 BAH rates at Fort Carson
For 2026, BAH rates at Fort Carson (Colorado Springs, CO MHA) are: E-4 with dependents: $2,160/mo · E-5 without dependents: $1,860/mo · E-5 with dependents: $2,358/mo · E-6 with dependents: $2,433/mo · E-7 with dependents: $2,487/mo · O-3 with dependents: $2,595/mo. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income. Full rates for all pay grades are in the table below.
Showing E-5 with dependents for the Colorado Springs, CO MHA.
Year over year: ▲ +$18 (0.8%) vs 2025
How This Market Compares
Fort Carson BAH for an E-5 with dependents is $2,358/month — $297/month above the national median of $2,061. That ranks the Colorado Springs, CO MHA 119th-highest of the 338 military housing areas tracked nationwide (top 35%) for the E-5 with-dependents rate.
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$2,358/mo
Natl median E-5 w/dep
$2,061/mo
vs. national median
+$297/mo
BAH vs. Local Rent
Across this area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs about $1,605–$2,142 (median $1,740).
E-5 w/dep BAH
$2,358/mo
2BR rent (HUD FMR, FY2026)
$1,740 median
$1,605–$2,142 range
The 2026 BAH for E-5 with dependents ($2,358) is above the area's 75th-percentile 2-bedroom rent — it covers a 2-bedroom across most of this area.
BAH is designed to cover about 95% of typical local housing costs — rent plus utilities — for a member's pay grade and dependency status, leaving a roughly 5% member cost share.
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026). 2-bedroom is the reference point closest to junior- and mid-grade housing; larger households and senior grades typically need more space. Rent figures are HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents matched to this installation's Military Housing Area by ZIP code. MHA boundaries and HUD rent areas don't align perfectly, so these are area-level reference figures, not a personalized rent estimate. FMR is a gross-rent figure that includes tenant-paid utilities — the same basis BAH is built on.
How Fort Carson BAH is set
BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP code or neighborhood. Fort Carson falls in the Colorado Springs, CO MHA — every installation and address in that MHA receives the same rate for a given pay grade and dependency status, so multiple bases can share one rate.
Fort Carson shares the Colorado Springs, CO MHA with Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and U.S. Air Force Academy — all receive identical BAH.
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Fort Carson rose $18 (+0.8%) from 2025's $2,340/month — about $216 more over the year, excluded from federal taxable income. That's below the national average BAH increase of 4.2% for 2026.
Some pay grades at Fort Carson decreased for 2026 compared with 2025. Under individual rate protection, service members who have remained at this duty station with the same pay grade and dependency status keep their higher prior-year rate. The lower 2026 rate applies to members who arrive at this location or whose dependency status changes in 2026.
2026 BAH Rates — Colorado Springs, CO
Monthly rates for all pay grades. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
E-4 w/dep: $2,160/mo·E-5 w/dep: $2,358/mo·E-6 w/dep: $2,433/mo
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $2,160No change | $1,689▼ −$3 (0.2%) |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $2,160No change | $1,689▼ −$3 (0.2%) |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $2,160No change | $1,689▼ −$3 (0.2%) |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $2,160No change | $1,689▼ −$3 (0.2%) |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $2,358▲ +$18 (0.8%) | $1,860▼ −$15 (0.8%) |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $2,433▲ +$51 (2.1%) | $1,980▼ −$15 (0.8%) |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $2,487▲ +$42 (1.7%) | $2,166No change |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $2,553▲ +$36 (1.4%) | $2,379▲ +$24 (1.0%) |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $2,646▲ +$33 (1.3%) | $2,388▲ +$27 (1.1%) |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $2,448▲ +$51 (2.1%) | $2,103▼ −$6 (0.3%) |
| W-2 (CW2) | $2,514▲ +$39 (1.6%) | $2,376▲ +$24 (1.0%) |
| W-3 (CW3) | $2,598▲ +$33 (1.3%) | $2,394▲ +$30 (1.3%) |
| W-4 (CW4) | $2,664▲ +$30 (1.1%) | $2,436▲ +$51 (2.1%) |
| W-5 (CW5) | $2,754▲ +$33 (1.2%) | $2,502▲ +$42 (1.7%) |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $2,496▲ +$45 (1.8%) | $2,355▲ +$18 (0.8%) |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $2,583▲ +$30 (1.2%) | $2,385▲ +$27 (1.1%) |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $2,679▲ +$36 (1.4%) | $2,418▲ +$48 (2.0%) |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $2,376▲ +$21 (0.9%) | $1,959▼ −$18 (0.9%) |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $2,430▲ +$51 (2.1%) | $2,295▲ +$12 (0.5%) |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $2,595▲ +$33 (1.3%) | $2,397▲ +$30 (1.3%) |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $2,778▲ +$33 (1.2%) | $2,484▲ +$42 (1.7%) |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $2,913▲ +$42 (1.5%) | $2,517▲ +$39 (1.6%) |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $2,934▲ +$36 (1.2%) | $2,574▲ +$27 (1.1%) |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $2,955▲ +$36 (1.2%) | $2,616▲ +$24 (0.9%) |
O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026.
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Colorado has a flat income tax of 4.40% on military pay. BAH and BAS are excluded from federal taxable income; state treatment varies.
Rent and cost figures on this page are approximate and provided for informational and educational purposes only. They reflect market estimates at time of publication and may not reflect current conditions. This is not financial, tax, or housing advice. Always verify figures independently and consult a qualified professional before making financial commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents at Fort Carson?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Fort Carson receives $2,358/month in BAH (Colorado Springs, CO MHA). Other grades with dependents: E-6 $2,433/month, E-7 $2,487/month, O-3 $2,595/month. E-5 without dependents is $1,860/month. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income.
Which Military Housing Area (MHA) is used for Fort Carson BAH?
Fort Carson is assigned to the Colorado Springs, CO Military Housing Area (MHA). Every installation and address in the same MHA receives the same rate, regardless of exact ZIP or neighborhood. Rates are published annually by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and take effect January 1.
How much did Fort Carson BAH change from 2025 to 2026?
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Fort Carson rose $18 (+0.8%) from 2025's $2,340/month — about $216 more over the year, excluded from federal taxable income. That's below the national average BAH increase of 4.2% for 2026. Rate protection means a member who stays at the same location with the same dependency status keeps their rate even if the published table rate falls.
Does Fort Carson BAH depend on my exact ZIP code?
No. BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP or neighborhood. Fort Carson falls in the Colorado Springs, CO MHA, so every ZIP in that area receives the identical rate for a given pay grade and dependency status.
How does Fort Carson BAH compare with nearby installations?
Nearby installations have their own MHA rates. For an E-5 with dependents: Fort Riley is $1,044/month lower, Kirtland AFB is $147/month lower, and Offutt AFB is $273/month lower — compared with Fort Carson's $2,358/month.
How does BAH at Fort Carson compare with local rent?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Fort Carson receives $2,358/month in BAH. Across the Colorado Springs, CO area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026) runs about $1,605–$2,142 (median $1,740). The 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ($2,358) is above the area's 75th-percentile 2-bedroom rent — it covers a 2-bedroom across most of this area. BAH is designed to cover about 95% of typical local housing costs — rent plus utilities — for a member's pay grade and dependency status.
Is BAH taxable for service members stationed at Fort Carson?
No. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income under the Military Pay Tax Exclusion. Most states also exempt BAH from state income tax, though treatment varies by state. Service members keep the full dollar value of their housing allowance.
Why do Fort Carson and nearby installations have the same BAH rate?
Fort Carson shares the Colorado Springs, CO MHA with Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and U.S. Air Force Academy — all of them receive identical BAH because the rate is set per MHA, not per installation. A member at any of these locations with the same pay grade and dependency status receives the same amount.
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Data Source & Disclaimer
BAH rates are from the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) 2026 BAH data, effective January 1, 2026. Rates are set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not individual ZIP code — all ZIPs in the same MHA receive identical rates. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with DoD, DTMO, or any government agency. Verify your entitlement at travel.dod.mil.