Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), one of the largest joint bases in the country, drives the Tacoma-area housing market. Seattle-Tacoma rents are among the priciest in the West, and BAH for this MHA reflects that reality. An E-5 with dependents receives $2,556/month in this area. The full official table for Tacoma, WA (MHA WA311) is below — every pay grade, with and without dependents, from 2026 DTMO rates, with 2027 projections marked where shown.
2026 BAH rates: Tacoma, WA
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | $2,370 | $2,034 |
| E2 | $2,370 | $2,034 |
| E3 | $2,370 | $2,034 |
| E4 | $2,370 | $2,034 |
| E5 | $2,556 | $2,121 |
| E6 | $2,919 | $2,199 |
| E7 | $2,994 | $2,376 |
| E8 | $3,072 | $2,634 |
| E9 | $3,180 | $2,736 |
| W1 | $2,940 | $2,313 |
| W2 | $3,024 | $2,631 |
| W3 | $3,126 | $2,751 |
| W4 | $3,201 | $2,931 |
| W5 | $3,297 | $3,009 |
| O1E | $3,006 | $2,553 |
| O2E | $3,108 | $2,712 |
| O3E | $3,216 | $2,913 |
| O1 | $2,607 | $2,178 |
| O2 | $2,916 | $2,496 |
| O3 | $3,123 | $2,784 |
| O4 | $3,324 | $2,991 |
| O5 | $3,471 | $3,030 |
| O6 | $3,501 | $3,102 |
| O7 | $3,525 | $3,156 |
| O8 | $3,525 | $3,156 |
| O9 | $3,525 | $3,156 |
| O10 | $3,525 | $3,156 |
Notes
- O-8, O-9 and O-10 are paid at the O-7 rate, per DTMO tables.
- BAH is tax-free and rate-protected: your rate cannot drop while you stay in the same area.
- Use the BAH Calculator 2027 for an exact figure by ZIP code, or try the duty-station comparison before a PCS.