E-3 BAH Rates in San Francisco, CA (2026)
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-3 (Private First Class (PFC)) stationed in San Francisco, CA is $4,764 per month with dependents and $3,573 per month without dependents. This rate is $2,635 above the national average for E-3.
BAH is a tax-free housing allowance paid to service members who do not live in government housing. Combined with E-3 base pay of $3,015/mo (at 2 years of service) and BAS of $476.95/mo, total monthly compensation in San Francisco is approximately $8,255.95 with dependents or $7,064.95 without.
E-3 BAH: San Francisco vs National Average
| San Francisco | National Avg | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Dependents | $4,764 | $2,129 | +$2,635 |
| Without Dependents | $3,573 | $1,683 | +$1,890 |
E-3 Total Monthly Compensation in San Francisco
Here is how E-3 pay breaks down for a service member with 2 years of service stationed in San Francisco:
| Component | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Base Pay | $3,015 | $3,015 |
| BAH | $4,764 | $3,573 |
| BAS | $476.95 | $476.95 |
| Total | $8,255.95 | $7,064.95 |
Base pay shown for 2 years of service. BAH and BAS are tax-free. Actual take-home pay will differ after federal tax on base pay. Use our Military Pay Calculator for a personalized estimate.
Other Ranks in San Francisco
- E-4 — $4,764/mo
- E-5 — $5,127/mo
- E-6 — $5,454/mo
- E-7 — $5,490/mo
- O-1 — $5,172/mo
- O-2 — $5,451/mo
- O-3 — $5,556/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 BAH rate for E-3 in San Francisco?
The 2026 E-3 BAH rate in San Francisco is $4,764/mo with dependents and $3,573/mo without dependents.
What is the total monthly pay for E-3 in San Francisco?
An E-3 with 2 years of service in San Francisco earns approximately $8,255.95/mo total compensation with dependents (base pay $3,015 + BAH $4,764 + BAS $476.95). Without dependents: $7,064.95/mo.
Is San Francisco BAH above or below average?
E-3 BAH in San Francisco is $2,635 above the national average of $2,129/mo with dependents.
E-3 BAH in San Francisco, CA, in context
An E-3 with dependents in San Francisco, CA draws $4,764/mo — 123.7% above the national average of $2,129 for this grade (2nd of 299 MHAs). Without dependents the rate is $3,573/mo, a $1,191 difference.
Worth knowing: promotion to E-4 does not raise BAH in this MHA — both grades draw $4,764/mo with dependents. The housing bump at junior grades often arrives later than the stripe.
Computed from the official 2026 BAH rate file across all 299 market-priced MHAs.