Allentown/Bethlehem, PA BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for Allentown/Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (MHA: PA255).
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 (Private/Seaman Recruit) | $2,259 | $1,749 |
| E-2 (Private/Seaman Apprentice) | $2,259 | $1,749 |
| E-3 (PFC/Seaman) | $2,259 | $1,749 |
| E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) | $2,259 | $1,749 |
| E-5 (Sergeant) | $2,373 | $2,001 |
| E-6 (Staff Sergeant) | $2,841 | $2,151 |
| E-7 (Sergeant First Class) | $2,865 | $2,262 |
| E-8 (Master Sergeant) | $2,874 | $2,472 |
| E-9 (Sergeant Major) | $2,955 | $2,607 |
| W-1 (Warrant Officer) | $2,862 | $2,232 |
| W-2 (Chief Warrant Officer 2) | $2,871 | $2,469 |
| W-3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3) | $2,883 | $2,625 |
| W-4 (Chief Warrant Officer 4) | $2,991 | $2,838 |
| W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5) | $3,156 | $2,850 |
| O-1E (2LT/ENS w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,868 | $2,370 |
| O-2E (1LT/LTJG w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,877 | $2,577 |
| O-3E (CPT/LT w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $3,015 | $2,835 |
| O-1 (Second Lieutenant/Ensign) | $2,436 | $2,142 |
| O-2 (First Lieutenant/LTJG) | $2,835 | $2,340 |
| O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant) | $2,880 | $2,670 |
| O-4 (Major/LCDR) | $3,207 | $2,841 |
| O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel/CDR) | $3,465 | $2,853 |
| O-6 (Colonel/Captain) | $3,492 | $2,856 |
| O-7 (Brigadier General/RDML) | $3,516 | $2,883 |
Allentown/Bethlehem, PA — BAH Rate Snapshot
2026 monthly BAH rates with dependents across key pay grades. Rates range from $2,259 to $3,465 — a $1,206 spread.
Highlighted bars show commonly referenced pay grades (E-5, O-3). All rates are 2026 DoD BAH figures for Allentown/Bethlehem, PA.
BAH Rate History (Estimated)
BAH Rate History — E-5 in Allentown/Bethlehem, PA
With Dependents • 2022–2026 (+$417 / +21.3%)
* Rates sourced from official DoD BAH rate publications for each year.
Allentown/Bethlehem vs. Nearby PA Duty Stations
E-5 with dependents BAH comparison. Allentown/Bethlehem ranks #3 — $561/mo less than Willow Grove.
About BAH in Allentown/Bethlehem, PA
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rate for Allentown/Bethlehem, Pennsylvania reflects the local cost of rental housing in the PA255 Military Housing Area. BAH rates are determined by surveying rental costs for various housing profiles in the area.
For an E-5 with dependents stationed in Allentown/Bethlehem, the monthly BAH rate is $2,373, which comes to $28,476 per year. Without dependents, the same pay grade receives $2,001 per month.
BAH Rates by Rank in Allentown/Bethlehem
View Allentown/Bethlehem BAH rates broken down by specific pay grade: E-5 BAH rates, E-6 BAH rates, E-7 BAH rates, O-3 BAH rates, or browse all pay grades.
Using BAH Toward a VA Home Loan
Many service members in Allentown/Bethlehem use their BAH to cover mortgage payments on a VA home loan. Use our BAH affordability tool to see what you can afford. Since BAH is non-taxable, it can stretch further than equivalent taxable income when qualifying for a mortgage.
Related Resources
- Historical BAH rates — See how Allentown/Bethlehem rates changed from 2022 to 2026
- Compare BAH rates — Compare Allentown/Bethlehem with another duty station
- All Pennsylvania duty stations