Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, California · Navy
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Showing E-5 with dependents for the Monterey, CA MHA.
Quick Facts
Location
Monterey, CA
Branch
Navy
MHA
Monterey, CA
E-5 w/dep
$3,465/mo
State Tax
6.5% (California)
CONUS COLA
Eligible (high)
How This Market Compares
Monterey has an expensive coastal California rental market. Seaside and Marina offer lower-cost options within easy commuting distance. Salinas (~20 miles inland) provides the most affordable housing in the region.
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$3,465/mo
Natl median E-5 w/dep
$2,061/mo
vs. natl avg
+$1,404/mo
2026 BAH Rates — Monterey, CA
Monthly rates for all pay grades. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
E-4 w/dep: $3,249/mo·E-5 w/dep: $3,465/mo·E-6 w/dep: $3,867/mo
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $3,249 | $2,493 |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $3,249 | $2,493 |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $3,249 | $2,493 |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $3,249 | $2,493 |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $3,465 | $2,844 |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $3,867 | $3,054 |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $4,218 | $3,258 |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $4,599 | $3,549 |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $4,956 | $3,717 |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $3,894 | $3,183 |
| W-2 (CW2) | $4,374 | $3,546 |
| W-3 (CW3) | $4,842 | $3,720 |
| W-4 (CW4) | $5,001 | $3,951 |
| W-5 (CW5) | $5,196 | $4,305 |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $4,293 | $3,462 |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $4,773 | $3,639 |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $5,031 | $3,861 |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $3,519 | $3,030 |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $3,864 | $3,396 |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $4,824 | $3,723 |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $5,259 | $4,245 |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $5,565 | $4,464 |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $5,613 | $4,821 |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $5,658 | $4,908 |
O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026.
Key Insights for Naval Postgraduate School
An E-5 with dependents receives $3,465/month — that's $41,580/year in tax-free housing money to cover costs in the Monterey, CA market.
California taxes military base pay at approximately 6.5%. BAH and BAS remain tax-free at the federal and state level.
Members at Naval Postgraduate School are eligible for CONUS COLA — a monthly supplement for high-cost areas (Monterey Peninsula, high tier). Confirm your exact rate with your finance office.
BAH is designed to cover median rental costs — not average or premium rents. Members living in above-median housing pay the difference out of pocket; those in below-median housing keep the surplus.
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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.