Columbia/Fort Jackson, SC BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for Columbia/Fort Jackson, South Carolina (MHA: SC260).
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 (Private/Seaman Recruit) | $1,812 | $1,479 |
| E-2 (Private/Seaman Apprentice) | $1,812 | $1,479 |
| E-3 (PFC/Seaman) | $1,812 | $1,479 |
| E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) | $1,812 | $1,479 |
| E-5 (Sergeant) | $1,878 | $1,647 |
| E-6 (Staff Sergeant) | $2,121 | $1,746 |
| E-7 (Sergeant First Class) | $2,160 | $1,812 |
| E-8 (Master Sergeant) | $2,202 | $1,932 |
| E-9 (Sergeant Major) | $2,310 | $1,995 |
| W-1 (Warrant Officer) | $2,136 | $1,803 |
| W-2 (Chief Warrant Officer 2) | $2,175 | $1,929 |
| W-3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3) | $2,235 | $2,004 |
| W-4 (Chief Warrant Officer 4) | $2,340 | $2,121 |
| W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5) | $2,475 | $2,166 |
| O-1E (2LT/ENS w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,163 | $1,875 |
| O-2E (1LT/LTJG w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,223 | $1,980 |
| O-3E (CPT/LT w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,361 | $2,109 |
| O-1 (Second Lieutenant/Ensign) | $1,914 | $1,743 |
| O-2 (First Lieutenant/LTJG) | $2,118 | $1,860 |
| O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant) | $2,232 | $2,028 |
| O-4 (Major/LCDR) | $2,517 | $2,151 |
| O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel/CDR) | $2,724 | $2,172 |
| O-6 (Colonel/Captain) | $2,745 | $2,211 |
| O-7 (Brigadier General/RDML) | $2,760 | $2,247 |
Columbia/Fort Jackson, SC — BAH Rate Snapshot
2026 monthly BAH rates with dependents across key pay grades. Rates range from $1,812 to $2,724 — a $912 spread.
Highlighted bars show commonly referenced pay grades (E-5, O-3). All rates are 2026 DoD BAH figures for Columbia/Fort Jackson, SC.
BAH Rate History (Estimated)
BAH Rate History — E-5 in Columbia/Fort Jackson, SC
With Dependents • 2022–2026 (+$306 / +19.5%)
* Rates sourced from official DoD BAH rate publications for each year.
Columbia/Fort Jackson vs. Nearby SC Duty Stations
E-5 with dependents BAH comparison. Columbia/Fort Jackson ranks #5 — $525/mo less than Beaufort/Parris Island.
About BAH in Columbia/Fort Jackson, SC
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rate for Columbia/Fort Jackson, South Carolina reflects the local cost of rental housing in the SC260 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 Columbia/Fort Jackson, the monthly BAH rate is $1,878, which comes to $22,536 per year. Without dependents, the same pay grade receives $1,647 per month.
BAH Rates by Rank in Columbia/Fort Jackson
View Columbia/Fort Jackson 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 Columbia/Fort Jackson 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 Columbia/Fort Jackson rates changed from 2022 to 2026
- Compare BAH rates — Compare Columbia/Fort Jackson with another duty station
- All South Carolina duty stations