Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Lakewood, Washington · Army / Air Force
JBLM is the largest U.S. Army installation on the West Coast, home to I Corps, the 7th Infantry Division, and the 62nd Airlift Wing flying C-17s.
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Quick reference: 2026 BAH rates at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
For 2026, BAH rates at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Tacoma, WA MHA) are: E-4 with dependents: $2,370/mo · E-5 without dependents: $2,121/mo · E-5 with dependents: $2,556/mo · E-6 with dependents: $2,919/mo · E-7 with dependents: $2,994/mo · O-3 with dependents: $3,123/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 Tacoma, WA MHA.
Year over year: ▲ +$48 (1.9%) vs 2025
How This Market Compares
Joint Base Lewis-McChord BAH for an E-5 with dependents is $2,556/month — $495/month above the national median of $2,061. That ranks the Tacoma, WA MHA 87th-highest of the 338 military housing areas tracked nationwide (top 26%) for the E-5 with-dependents rate.
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$2,556/mo
Natl median E-5 w/dep
$2,061/mo
vs. national median
+$495/mo
BAH vs. Local Rent
Across this area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs about $1,860–$2,095 (median $1,970).
E-5 w/dep BAH
$2,556/mo
2BR rent (HUD FMR, FY2026)
$1,970 median
$1,860–$2,095 range
The 2026 BAH for E-5 with dependents ($2,556) 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord BAH is set
BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP code or neighborhood. Joint Base Lewis-McChord falls in the Tacoma, WA 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord rose $48 (+1.9%) from 2025's $2,508/month — about $576 more over the year, excluded from federal taxable income. That's below the national average BAH increase of 4.2% for 2026. Year-over-year change reflects published table rates; individual rate protection may keep your personal rate higher.
2026 BAH Rates — Tacoma, WA
Monthly rates for all pay grades. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
E-4 w/dep: $2,370/mo·E-5 w/dep: $2,556/mo·E-6 w/dep: $2,919/mo
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $2,370▲ +$42 (1.8%) | $2,034▲ +$249 (13.9%) |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $2,370▲ +$42 (1.8%) | $2,034▲ +$249 (13.9%) |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $2,370▲ +$42 (1.8%) | $2,034▲ +$249 (13.9%) |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $2,370▲ +$42 (1.8%) | $2,034▲ +$249 (13.9%) |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $2,556▲ +$48 (1.9%) | $2,121▲ +$108 (5.4%) |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $2,919▲ +$69 (2.4%) | $2,199▲ +$39 (1.8%) |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $2,994▲ +$72 (2.5%) | $2,376▲ +$45 (1.9%) |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $3,072▲ +$72 (2.4%) | $2,634▲ +$51 (2.0%) |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $3,180▲ +$75 (2.4%) | $2,736▲ +$60 (2.2%) |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $2,940▲ +$72 (2.5%) | $2,313▲ +$39 (1.7%) |
| W-2 (CW2) | $3,024▲ +$69 (2.3%) | $2,631▲ +$51 (2.0%) |
| W-3 (CW3) | $3,126▲ +$72 (2.4%) | $2,751▲ +$63 (2.3%) |
| W-4 (CW4) | $3,201▲ +$75 (2.4%) | $2,931▲ +$69 (2.4%) |
| W-5 (CW5) | $3,297▲ +$75 (2.3%) | $3,009▲ +$69 (2.3%) |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $3,006▲ +$75 (2.6%) | $2,553▲ +$48 (1.9%) |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $3,108▲ +$69 (2.3%) | $2,712▲ +$57 (2.1%) |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $3,216▲ +$78 (2.5%) | $2,913▲ +$72 (2.5%) |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $2,607▲ +$51 (2.0%) | $2,178▲ +$36 (1.7%) |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $2,916▲ +$69 (2.4%) | $2,496▲ +$45 (1.8%) |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $3,123▲ +$72 (2.4%) | $2,784▲ +$60 (2.2%) |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $3,324▲ +$75 (2.3%) | $2,991▲ +$72 (2.5%) |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $3,471▲ +$84 (2.5%) | $3,030▲ +$69 (2.3%) |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $3,501▲ +$84 (2.5%) | $3,102▲ +$69 (2.3%) |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $3,525▲ +$81 (2.4%) | $3,156▲ +$69 (2.2%) |
O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026. Year-over-year change reflects published BAH table rates. Individual rate protection means your personal rate may differ if you've maintained eligibility at this location.
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Washington has no state income tax — a significant net-pay advantage over most West Coast duty stations.
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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Joint Base Lewis-McChord receives $2,556/month in BAH (Tacoma, WA MHA). Other grades with dependents: E-6 $2,919/month, E-7 $2,994/month, O-3 $3,123/month. E-5 without dependents is $2,121/month. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income.
Which Military Housing Area (MHA) is used for Joint Base Lewis-McChord BAH?
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is assigned to the Tacoma, WA 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord BAH change from 2025 to 2026?
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Joint Base Lewis-McChord rose $48 (+1.9%) from 2025's $2,508/month — about $576 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord BAH depend on my exact ZIP code?
No. BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP or neighborhood. Joint Base Lewis-McChord falls in the Tacoma, WA MHA, so every ZIP in that area receives the identical rate for a given pay grade and dependency status.
How does Joint Base Lewis-McChord BAH compare with nearby installations?
Nearby installations have their own MHA rates. For an E-5 with dependents: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is $318/month higher, Naval Base Kitsap is $192/month lower, and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is $483/month lower — compared with Joint Base Lewis-McChord's $2,556/month.
How does BAH at Joint Base Lewis-McChord compare with local rent?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Joint Base Lewis-McChord receives $2,556/month in BAH. Across the Tacoma, WA area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026) runs about $1,860–$2,095 (median $1,970). The 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ($2,556) 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 Joint Base Lewis-McChord?
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.
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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.