Joint Base San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas · Air Force / Army / Navy / Marine Corps / Space Force
JBSA is a tri-base complex — Lackland AFB (basic training), Fort Sam Houston (military medical), and Randolph AFB (pilot training) — supporting over 80,000 personnel across San Antonio.
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Quick reference: 2026 BAH rates at Joint Base San Antonio
For 2026, BAH rates at Joint Base San Antonio (San Antonio, TX MHA) are: E-4 with dependents: $1,728/mo · E-5 without dependents: $1,500/mo · E-5 with dependents: $1,869/mo · E-6 with dependents: $2,094/mo · E-7 with dependents: $2,112/mo · O-3 with dependents: $2,127/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 San Antonio, TX MHA.
Year over year: ▼ −$66 (3.4%) vs 2025
How This Market Compares
Joint Base San Antonio BAH for an E-5 with dependents is $1,869/month — $192/month below the national median of $2,061. That ranks the San Antonio, TX MHA 208th-highest of the 338 military housing areas tracked nationwide (top 62%) for the E-5 with-dependents rate.
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$1,869/mo
Natl median E-5 w/dep
$2,061/mo
vs. national median
-$192/mo
BAH vs. Local Rent
Across this area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs about $1,350–$1,620 (median $1,410).
E-5 w/dep BAH
$1,869/mo
2BR rent (HUD FMR, FY2026)
$1,410 median
$1,350–$1,620 range
The 2026 BAH for E-5 with dependents ($1,869) 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 San Antonio BAH is set
BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP code or neighborhood. Joint Base San Antonio falls in the San Antonio, TX 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 San Antonio fell $66 (−3.4%) from 2025's $1,935/month — about $792 less over the year. That's below the national average BAH increase of 4.2% for 2026.
Some pay grades at Joint Base San Antonio 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 — San Antonio, TX
Monthly rates for all pay grades. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
E-4 w/dep: $1,728/mo·E-5 w/dep: $1,869/mo·E-6 w/dep: $2,094/mo
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $1,728▼ −$63 (3.5%) | $1,359▲ +$15 (1.1%) |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $1,728▼ −$63 (3.5%) | $1,359▲ +$15 (1.1%) |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $1,728▼ −$63 (3.5%) | $1,359▲ +$15 (1.1%) |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $1,728▼ −$63 (3.5%) | $1,359▲ +$15 (1.1%) |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $1,869▼ −$66 (3.4%) | $1,500▼ −$30 (2.0%) |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $2,094▼ −$60 (2.8%) | $1,596▼ −$60 (3.6%) |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $2,112▼ −$60 (2.8%) | $1,731▼ −$63 (3.5%) |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $2,121▼ −$60 (2.8%) | $1,920▼ −$63 (3.2%) |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $2,157▼ −$51 (2.3%) | $1,977▼ −$60 (2.9%) |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $2,109▼ −$60 (2.8%) | $1,692▼ −$60 (3.4%) |
| W-2 (CW2) | $2,118▼ −$60 (2.8%) | $1,917▼ −$63 (3.2%) |
| W-3 (CW3) | $2,130▼ −$60 (2.7%) | $1,986▼ −$63 (3.1%) |
| W-4 (CW4) | $2,178▼ −$51 (2.3%) | $2,085▼ −$60 (2.8%) |
| W-5 (CW5) | $2,280▼ −$36 (1.6%) | $2,097▼ −$60 (2.8%) |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $2,115▼ −$60 (2.8%) | $1,866▼ −$66 (3.4%) |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $2,124▼ −$60 (2.7%) | $1,965▼ −$60 (3.0%) |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $2,196▼ −$42 (1.9%) | $2,082▼ −$60 (2.8%) |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $1,905▼ −$63 (3.2%) | $1,584▼ −$60 (3.6%) |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $2,091▼ −$60 (2.8%) | $1,827▼ −$63 (3.3%) |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $2,127▼ −$60 (2.7%) | $2,007▼ −$63 (3.0%) |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $2,307▼ −$33 (1.4%) | $2,088▼ −$60 (2.8%) |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $2,457▼ −$9 (0.4%) | $2,100▼ −$60 (2.8%) |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $2,475▼ −$12 (0.5%) | $2,103▼ −$60 (2.8%) |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $2,490▼ −$15 (0.6%) | $2,112▼ −$66 (3.0%) |
O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026.
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BAH is just one piece of your pay
See your full compensation at Joint Base San Antonio — including base pay, BAS, tax advantages, and what a civilian would need to earn to match it.
Calculate your total compensation →State income tax
Texas has no state income tax on military pay. BAH and BAS are also excluded from federal taxable income.
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 San Antonio?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Joint Base San Antonio receives $1,869/month in BAH (San Antonio, TX MHA). Other grades with dependents: E-6 $2,094/month, E-7 $2,112/month, O-3 $2,127/month. E-5 without dependents is $1,500/month. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income.
Which Military Housing Area (MHA) is used for Joint Base San Antonio BAH?
Joint Base San Antonio is assigned to the San Antonio, TX 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 San Antonio BAH change from 2025 to 2026?
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Joint Base San Antonio fell $66 (−3.4%) from 2025's $1,935/month — about $792 less over the year. 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 San Antonio 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 San Antonio falls in the San Antonio, TX MHA, so every ZIP in that area receives the identical rate for a given pay grade and dependency status.
How does Joint Base San Antonio BAH compare with nearby installations?
Nearby installations have their own MHA rates. For an E-5 with dependents: Fort Hood is $174/month lower, Fort Bliss is $60/month lower, and Barksdale AFB is $24/month lower — compared with Joint Base San Antonio's $1,869/month.
How does BAH at Joint Base San Antonio compare with local rent?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Joint Base San Antonio receives $1,869/month in BAH. Across the San Antonio, TX area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026) runs about $1,350–$1,620 (median $1,410). The 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ($1,869) 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 San Antonio?
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.