Pennsylvania (PA) BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for 8 military duty stations in Pennsylvania. Average E-5 with dependents rate: $2,169/mo.
PA Duty Station BAH Comparison — E-5
E-5 with dependents rates across Pennsylvania stations. Highest: $2,934 (Willow Grove). Lowest: $1,464 (Erie). Average: $2,169/mo.
Allentown/Bethlehem, PA
MHA: PA255
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,373
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,880
Carlisle Barracks, PA
MHA: PA247
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,076
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,559
Erie, PA
MHA: PA253
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,464
O-3 w/ Dep
$1,872
Philadelphia, PA
MHA: PA248
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,691
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,015
Pittsburgh, PA
MHA: PA250
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,283
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,643
State College, PA
MHA: PA252
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,791
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,580
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA
MHA: PA254
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,740
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,085
Willow Grove, PA
MHA: PA249
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,934
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,438
About BAH in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 8 Military Housing Areas with BAH rates that reflect local rental costs. Rates vary significantly across the state based on the cost of living in each area. The Department of Defense calculates BAH using median rental data collected from each housing area, ensuring that service members receive allowances aligned with actual housing costs in their duty station location.
The highest E-5 with dependents BAH rate in Pennsylvania is $2,934/mo and the lowest is $1,464/mo. This range reflects the diversity of housing markets across Pennsylvania's military installations.
How Pennsylvania BAH Rates Are Determined
BAH rates in Pennsylvania are based on annual surveys of local rental markets conducted by the Department of Defense. These surveys measure median housing costs including rent, utilities, and renter's insurance for various housing profiles. Each Military Housing Area (MHA) in Pennsylvania receives rates tailored to its specific cost of living, which is why rates can differ significantly between duty stations even within the same state. Service members stationed in Pennsylvania should use our calculator to find the exact rate for their specific pay grade and dependency status.
Related Resources
- BAH rates by pay grade — Compare rates across all ranks
- Historical BAH rates — See how Pennsylvania rates changed over time
- Compare duty stations — Side-by-side BAH comparison
- BAH affordability tool — What can you afford?