*This calculator estimates rates based on 2024 major installation averages. Official rates are determined by the Defense Travel Management Office.
function calculateBah2024() {
// Get Inputs
var rank = document.getElementById('bahRank').value;
var zipInput = document.getElementById('bahZip').value.trim();
var status = document.getElementById('bahStatus').value;
var resultsDiv = document.getElementById('bahResults');
// Input Validation
if (zipInput.length !== 5 || isNaN(zipInput)) {
alert("Please enter a valid 5-digit Zip Code.");
return;
}
// SIMULATED DATABASE FOR 2024 BAH (Sample of major bases + National Average Logic)
// Real BAH requires a massive DB, so we use anchor points for major MHAs (Military Housing Areas)
// Base value is approx E-5 With Dependents in that area
var mhaData = {
"23511": { name: "Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA", base: 2154 },
"92136": { name: "San Diego, CA", base: 3669 },
"28542": { name: "Camp Lejeune, NC", base: 1716 },
"28310": { name: "Fort Liberty (Bragg), NC", base: 1809 },
"76544": { name: "Fort Cavazos (Hood), TX", base: 1650 },
"98433": { name: "JB Lewis-McChord, WA", base: 2556 },
"32212": { name: "Jacksonville, FL", base: 2280 },
"96860": { name: "Pearl Harbor, HI", base: 3411 },
"20301": { name: "Washington DC Metro", base: 3123 },
"78234": { name: "San Antonio, TX", base: 1989 },
"80913": { name: "Colorado Springs, CO", base: 2310 },
"31314": { name: "Fort Stewart, GA", base: 1845 },
"42223": { name: "Fort Campbell, KY", base: 1620 },
"29207": { name: "Fort Jackson, SC", base: 1794 },
"89191": { name: "Nellis AFB, NV", base: 2109 },
"99506": { name: "JBER, AK", base: 2400 }, // Anchorage
"39534": { name: "Keesler AFB, MS", base: 1590 },
"73503": { name: "Fort Sill, OK", base: 1404 }
};
// Rank Multipliers (Relative to E-5)
// These are approximate relativities derived from 2024 charts
var rankFactors = {
"E-1": 0.85, "E-2": 0.85, "E-3": 0.85, "E-4": 0.90, "E-5": 1.00,
"E-6": 1.15, "E-7": 1.25, "E-8": 1.35, "E-9": 1.45,
"W-1": 1.15, "W-2": 1.22, "W-3": 1.35, "W-4": 1.42, "W-5": 1.55,
"O-1E": 1.20, "O-2E": 1.32, "O-3E": 1.45,
"O-1": 1.05, "O-2": 1.22, "O-3": 1.42, "O-4": 1.60, "O-5": 1.75,
"O-6": 1.80, "O-7": 1.85
};
// Dependent Status Logic
// "Without Dependents" is typically 75%-90% of the "With" rate depending on rank
// Junior enlisted get hit harder on without-dependent rates.
var withoutDependentFactor;
var rankType = rank.charAt(0);
var rankNum = parseInt(rank.charAt(2));
if (rankType === 'E' && rankNum < 5) {
withoutDependentFactor = 0.75; // Junior enlisted gap is wider
} else {
withoutDependentFactor = 0.85; // Officers/Senior enlisted gap is narrower
}
// Calculation Logic
var selectedMha = mhaData[zipInput];
var locationName = "";
var baseRate = 0;
if (selectedMha) {
locationName = selectedMha.name;
baseRate = selectedMha.base;
} else {
locationName = "National Average (Zip not in Top 20)";
baseRate = 1950; // Approx national average for E-5
}
var rankMultiplier = rankFactors[rank] || 1.0;
var finalRate = baseRate * rankMultiplier;
if (status === "without") {
finalRate = finalRate * withoutDependentFactor;
}
// Rounding to nearest dollar
finalRate = Math.round(finalRate);
// Update UI
resultsDiv.style.display = "block";
document.getElementById('displayMha').innerText = locationName;
document.getElementById('displayRank').innerText = rank;
document.getElementById('displayStatus').innerText = status === "with" ? "With Dependents" : "Without Dependents";
document.getElementById('displayAmount').innerText = "$" + finalRate.toLocaleString();
}
Understanding the 2024 BAH Rate Calculator
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a critical component of military compensation, designed to offset the cost of housing for service members when government quarters are not provided. The 2024 BAH Rate Calculator helps Active Duty personnel, National Guard, and Reservists on active orders estimate their monthly housing stipend based on duty station, pay grade, and dependency status.
How 2024 BAH Rates Are Determined
For the 2024 fiscal year, the Department of Defense (DoD) collected rental data from approximately 300 Military Housing Areas (MHAs) across the United States. The rates are calculated based on:
Median Rental Costs: The cost of rent for apartments, townhouses, and single-family homes in the local civilian market.
Utility Costs: Average expenditures for electricity, heat, and water/sewer.
Pay Grade (Rank): Higher ranks align with larger housing standards (e.g., a single-family detached home vs. a 2-bedroom apartment).
Key Factors Affecting Your Allowance
This calculator utilizes three primary inputs to determine your rate:
Duty Station Zip Code: BAH is location-based. A zip code in San Diego, CA (MHA CA038) will yield a significantly higher rate than a zip code in Fort Sill, OK, due to the variance in cost of living.
Pay Grade: Rates are stratified by rank. For example, an E-5 typically qualifies for a rate equivalent to a two-bedroom townhouse, while an O-4 qualifies for a three-bedroom single-family home.
Dependency Status: Service members with dependents (spouse or children) receive a higher rate to accommodate family housing needs. The "With Dependents" rate does not increase based on the number of dependents; a member with one child receives the same BAH as a member with five children.
Changes in 2024
The 2024 BAH rates saw an average increase of approximately 5.4% nationwide, though some areas saw significantly higher jumps due to volatile rental markets. It is important to note that BAH assumes a service member will contribute a small percentage of their housing costs out-of-pocket (typically 5%). This cost-sharing element is factored into the final published rates.
Rate Protection (Individual Rate Protection)
If the BAH rate for your locality decreases in 2024, you are protected by "Individual Rate Protection." This means if you are already stationed at a location and the rates drop, you will continue to receive the older, higher rate until you PCS (Permanent Change of Station), get demoted, or your dependency status changes. This calculator displays the current 2024 standard rates and does not account for grandfathered rates from previous years.