Naval Station Great Lakes
North Chicago, Illinois · Navy
Naval Station Great Lakes is the Navy's only boot camp and its largest training installation, producing all enlisted Navy recruits and hosting the Naval Health Sciences School.
Quick Facts
Location
North Chicago, IL
Branch
Navy
MHA
Great Lakes Navtracen, IL
E-5 w/dep BAH
$2,427/mo
State Tax
5.0% (Illinois)
2026 BAH Rates — Great Lakes Navtracen, IL
Monthly rates. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $2,202 | $1,653 |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $2,202 | $1,653 |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $2,202 | $1,653 |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $2,202 | $1,653 |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $2,427 | $1,854 |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $2,760 | $2,067 |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $2,853 | $2,211 |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $2,955 | $2,499 |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $3,120 | $2,592 |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $2,778 | $2,133 |
| W-2 (CW2) | $2,895 | $2,496 |
| W-3 (CW3) | $3,021 | $2,604 |
| W-4 (CW4) | $3,156 | $2,778 |
| W-5 (CW5) | $3,327 | $2,874 |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $2,871 | $2,424 |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $3,000 | $2,571 |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $3,183 | $2,751 |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $2,475 | $1,977 |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $2,757 | $2,355 |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $3,018 | $2,637 |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $3,381 | $2,853 |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $3,645 | $2,907 |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $3,675 | $3,000 |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $3,702 | $3,051 |
O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026.
How This Market Compares
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$2,427/mo
National avg E-5 w/dep
$1,987/mo
vs. National avg
+$440/mo
The North Chicago/Waukegan market on Lake Michigan's shore is moderately priced. BAH comfortably covers mid-range rentals, and the Chicago metro's rail access means some servicemembers commute from further south.
Key Insights for Naval Station Great Lakes
An E-5 with dependents receives $2,427/month BAH — or $29,124/year — to cover housing costs in the Great Lakes Navtracen, IL area.
Illinois taxes military base pay at approximately 5.0%. BAH and BAS remain tax-free at the federal and state level.
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.
Calculate Your Full Military Pay
BAH is one component. See your total compensation including base pay, BAS, and tax savings.
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.