E-5 BAH Rates in San Francisco, CA (2026)
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an E-5 (Sergeant (SGT)) stationed in San Francisco, CA is $5,127 per month with dependents and $4,086 per month without dependents. This rate is $2,838 above the national average for E-5.
BAH is a tax-free housing allowance paid to service members who do not live in government housing. Combined with E-5 base pay of $4,110/mo (at 6 years of service) and BAS of $476.95/mo, total monthly compensation in San Francisco is approximately $9,713.95 with dependents or $8,672.95 without.
E-5 BAH: San Francisco vs National Average
| San Francisco | National Avg | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Dependents | $5,127 | $2,289 | +$2,838 |
| Without Dependents | $4,086 | $1,871 | +$2,215 |
E-5 Total Monthly Compensation in San Francisco
Here is how E-5 pay breaks down for a service member with 6 years of service stationed in San Francisco:
| Component | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Base Pay | $4,110 | $4,110 |
| BAH | $5,127 | $4,086 |
| BAS | $476.95 | $476.95 |
| Total | $9,713.95 | $8,672.95 |
Base pay shown for 6 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-3 — $4,764/mo
- E-4 — $4,764/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-5 in San Francisco?
The 2026 E-5 BAH rate in San Francisco is $5,127/mo with dependents and $4,086/mo without dependents.
What is the total monthly pay for E-5 in San Francisco?
An E-5 with 6 years of service in San Francisco earns approximately $9,713.95/mo total compensation with dependents (base pay $4,110 + BAH $5,127 + BAS $476.95). Without dependents: $8,672.95/mo.
Is San Francisco BAH above or below average?
E-5 BAH in San Francisco is $2,838 above the national average of $2,289/mo with dependents.
E-5 BAH in San Francisco, CA, in context
An E-5 with dependents in San Francisco, CA draws $5,127/mo — 124% above the national average of $2,289 for this grade (1st of 299 MHAs). Without dependents the rate is $4,086/mo, a $1,041 difference.
Promotion changes housing money here: pinning on E-6 raises BAH in this MHA by $327/mo (to $5,454), on top of the base-pay increase.
Computed from the official 2026 BAH rate file across all 299 market-priced MHAs.