Essex Co, MA BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for Essex Co, Massachusetts (MHA: MA125).
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 (Private/Seaman Recruit) | $3,282 | $2,589 |
| E-2 (Private/Seaman Apprentice) | $3,282 | $2,589 |
| E-3 (PFC/Seaman) | $3,282 | $2,589 |
| E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) | $3,282 | $2,589 |
| E-5 (Sergeant) | $3,477 | $2,910 |
| E-6 (Staff Sergeant) | $3,744 | $3,102 |
| E-7 (Sergeant First Class) | $4,032 | $3,288 |
| E-8 (Master Sergeant) | $4,344 | $3,537 |
| E-9 (Sergeant Major) | $4,755 | $3,606 |
| W-1 (Warrant Officer) | $3,765 | $3,225 |
| W-2 (Chief Warrant Officer 2) | $4,158 | $3,534 |
| W-3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3) | $4,545 | $3,618 |
| W-4 (Chief Warrant Officer 4) | $4,833 | $3,807 |
| W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5) | $5,181 | $4,101 |
| O-1E (2LT/ENS w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $4,089 | $3,474 |
| O-2E (1LT/LTJG w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $4,488 | $3,591 |
| O-3E (CPT/LT w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $4,887 | $3,735 |
| O-1 (Second Lieutenant/Ensign) | $3,516 | $3,084 |
| O-2 (First Lieutenant/LTJG) | $3,741 | $3,417 |
| O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant) | $4,533 | $3,642 |
| O-4 (Major/LCDR) | $5,301 | $4,053 |
| O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel/CDR) | $5,853 | $4,389 |
| O-6 (Colonel/Captain) | $5,904 | $4,524 |
| O-7 (Brigadier General/RDML) | $5,952 | $4,605 |
Essex Co, MA — BAH Rate Snapshot
2026 monthly BAH rates with dependents across key pay grades. Rates range from $3,282 to $5,853 — a $2,571 spread.
Highlighted bars show commonly referenced pay grades (E-5, O-3). All rates are 2026 DoD BAH figures for Essex Co, MA.
BAH Rate History (Estimated)
BAH Rate History — E-5 in Essex Co, MA
With Dependents • 2022–2026 (+$978 / +39.1%)
* Rates sourced from official DoD BAH rate publications for each year.
Essex Co vs. Nearby MA Duty Stations
E-5 with dependents BAH comparison. Essex Co ranks #5 — $1,314/mo less than Boston.
About BAH in Essex Co, MA
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rate for Essex Co, Massachusetts reflects the local cost of rental housing in the MA125 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 Essex Co, the monthly BAH rate is $3,477, which comes to $41,724 per year. Without dependents, the same pay grade receives $2,910 per month.
BAH Rates by Rank in Essex Co
View Essex Co 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 Essex Co 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 Essex Co rates changed from 2022 to 2026
- Compare BAH rates — Compare Essex Co with another duty station
- All Massachusetts duty stations