Fort Bragg
Fayetteville, North Carolina · Army · Formerly Fort Liberty (2023–2025)
Home of the 82nd Airborne and USASOC — the largest installation by population with over 50,000 active-duty soldiers.
Check your rate
Select your rank and dependent status below
See it vs. local rent
Compare your BAH to the area's Fair Market Rent
Plan your move
Compare stations or estimate PCS costs
Quick reference: 2026 BAH rates at Fort Bragg
For 2026, BAH rates at Fort Bragg (Fort Bragg/Pope, NC MHA) are: E-4 with dependents: $1,722/mo · E-5 without dependents: $1,527/mo · E-5 with dependents: $1,806/mo · E-6 with dependents: $2,049/mo · E-7 with dependents: $2,094/mo · O-3 with dependents: $2,175/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 Fort Bragg/Pope, NC MHA.
Year over year: ▲ +$21 (1.2%) vs 2025
How This Market Compares
Fort Bragg BAH for an E-5 with dependents is $1,806/month — $255/month below the national median of $2,061. That ranks the Fort Bragg/Pope, NC MHA 221st-highest of the 338 military housing areas tracked nationwide (top 65%) for the E-5 with-dependents rate.
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$1,806/mo
Natl median E-5 w/dep
$2,061/mo
vs. national median
-$255/mo
BAH vs. Local Rent
Across this area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs about $940–$1,280 (median $1,140).
E-5 w/dep BAH
$1,806/mo
2BR rent (HUD FMR, FY2026)
$1,140 median
$940–$1,280 range
The 2026 BAH for E-5 with dependents ($1,806) 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 Bragg BAH is set
BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP code or neighborhood. Fort Bragg falls in the Fort Bragg/Pope, NC 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.
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Fort Bragg rose $21 (+1.2%) from 2025's $1,785/month — about $252 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 Bragg 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 — Fort Bragg/Pope, NC
Monthly rates for all pay grades. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
E-4 w/dep: $1,722/mo·E-5 w/dep: $1,806/mo·E-6 w/dep: $2,049/mo
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $1,722▲ +$21 (1.2%) | $1,341▼ −$36 (2.6%) |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $1,722▲ +$21 (1.2%) | $1,341▼ −$36 (2.6%) |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $1,722▲ +$21 (1.2%) | $1,341▼ −$36 (2.6%) |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $1,722▲ +$21 (1.2%) | $1,341▼ −$36 (2.6%) |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $1,806▲ +$21 (1.2%) | $1,527No change |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $2,049▲ +$33 (1.6%) | $1,638▲ +$18 (1.1%) |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $2,094▲ +$33 (1.6%) | $1,722▲ +$21 (1.2%) |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $2,142▲ +$33 (1.6%) | $1,860▲ +$24 (1.3%) |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $2,244▲ +$33 (1.5%) | $1,923▲ +$30 (1.6%) |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $2,067▲ +$33 (1.6%) | $1,707▲ +$21 (1.2%) |
| W-2 (CW2) | $2,112▲ +$30 (1.4%) | $1,857▲ +$24 (1.3%) |
| W-3 (CW3) | $2,178▲ +$33 (1.5%) | $1,935▲ +$30 (1.6%) |
| W-4 (CW4) | $2,271▲ +$33 (1.5%) | $2,052▲ +$33 (1.6%) |
| W-5 (CW5) | $2,391▲ +$33 (1.4%) | $2,103▲ +$33 (1.6%) |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $2,097▲ +$33 (1.6%) | $1,803▲ +$21 (1.2%) |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $2,166▲ +$33 (1.5%) | $1,908▲ +$27 (1.4%) |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $2,289▲ +$36 (1.6%) | $2,040▲ +$33 (1.6%) |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $1,842▲ +$24 (1.3%) | $1,635▲ +$18 (1.1%) |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $2,046▲ +$33 (1.6%) | $1,782▲ +$21 (1.2%) |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $2,175▲ +$33 (1.5%) | $1,956▲ +$27 (1.4%) |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $2,427▲ +$33 (1.4%) | $2,088▲ +$33 (1.6%) |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $2,610▲ +$36 (1.4%) | $2,109▲ +$30 (1.4%) |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $2,628▲ +$33 (1.3%) | $2,154▲ +$30 (1.4%) |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $2,646▲ +$33 (1.3%) | $2,190▲ +$30 (1.4%) |
O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026.
Calculator
BAH is just one piece of your pay
See your full compensation at Fort Bragg — including base pay, BAS, tax advantages, and what a civilian would need to earn to match it.
Calculate your total compensation →State income tax
For North Carolina residents, military base pay is generally subject to NC income tax. BAH and BAS are not taxable income at the federal or state level. Domicile and residency rules may affect your state tax situation.
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 Bragg?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Fort Bragg receives $1,806/month in BAH (Fort Bragg/Pope, NC MHA). Other grades with dependents: E-6 $2,049/month, E-7 $2,094/month, O-3 $2,175/month. E-5 without dependents is $1,527/month. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income.
Which Military Housing Area (MHA) is used for Fort Bragg BAH?
Fort Bragg is assigned to the Fort Bragg/Pope, NC 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 Bragg BAH change from 2025 to 2026?
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Fort Bragg rose $21 (+1.2%) from 2025's $1,785/month — about $252 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 Bragg BAH depend on my exact ZIP code?
No. BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP or neighborhood. Fort Bragg falls in the Fort Bragg/Pope, NC MHA, so every ZIP in that area receives the identical rate for a given pay grade and dependency status.
How does Fort Bragg BAH compare with nearby installations?
Nearby installations have their own MHA rates. For an E-5 with dependents: Seymour Johnson AFB is $285/month lower, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is $222/month lower, and MCAS Cherry Point is $45/month higher — compared with Fort Bragg's $1,806/month.
How does BAH at Fort Bragg compare with local rent?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Fort Bragg receives $1,806/month in BAH. Across the Fort Bragg/Pope, NC area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026) runs about $940–$1,280 (median $1,140). The 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ($1,806) 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 Bragg?
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.
What to do next
BAH is the starting point. Here are the calculations that matter most for your PCS decision.
Compare Fort Bragg to another duty station→Get notified when 2027 BAH rates update for Fort Bragg
Updates when rates change. No spam.
We'll only email you when official rates change or new tools launch. Unsubscribe anytime.
Nearby & Comparable Installations
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.