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2026 Washington BAH Rates

Rates and VA Loan Buying Power

2026 Washington BAH Rates and VA Loan Buying Power

Washington BAH rates can materially affect VA loan buying power because BAH is tax free and many lenders count it when it is verified on your LES. In higher cost markets like Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and Bremerton, the way a lender handles your LES, gross up, and payment target can change what you can safely buy before you ever reach the tables.


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Check VA Loan Eligibility Using Your BAH and LES

Washington BAH Snapshot

Seattle runs highest in your sample set at $3,051 for an E-5 with dependents, while Tacoma and JBLM sits at $2,556 and Bremerton at $2,364. That spread can materially change buying power by zip code, rank, and dependency status.

How Lenders Count BAH

Many VA lenders count BAH as qualifying income when it appears on your LES. Because it is tax free, some lenders also gross it up. That can improve DTI, but residual income and the full monthly housing payment still decide what is workable.

PCS and Rate Protection

With valid PCS orders, lenders can often use gaining station BAH when you are moving into Washington. Separate from that, individual rate protection can preserve a higher allowance while you stay at the same duty station with the same rank and dependency status.

LES and Documents

Expect lenders to review two to three LES statements, plus PCS orders when relevant. Those documents help verify continuity, current entitlements, and whether the lender used the correct Washington housing assumptions from the start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Washington BAH to qualify for a VA loan?
Yes. Many lenders count BAH as qualifying income when it appears on your LES. Because it is tax free, some lenders may also gross it up, which can improve ratios and increase VA loan buying power.
Can PCS orders change which Washington BAH a lender uses?
Often yes. With valid orders, a lender may qualify you using the gaining station BAH for Seattle, Tacoma, Bremerton, Everett, or another Washington market, which can materially change the payment range you can support.
Why does the Washington BAH table not match my loan estimate exactly?
The table is only a planning reference. Lenders also factor in debts, credit, taxes, insurance, residual income, and whether your documented BAH on the LES was grossed up, so the final estimate can differ from the chart.

How to Use Washington BAH Rates for a VA Loan

  • Pick the right table: Start with the Washington market that matches your duty station or likely purchase area, then match your rank and dependency status before estimating any payment.
  • Turn BAH into PITI target plus cushion: Use BAH as the first pass for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance, then leave room for utilities, HOA dues, repairs, and ordinary monthly variance.
  • Verify lender treatment using LES and gross up: Ask how the lender is counting tax free BAH from your LES, whether it is grossed up, and how that changes your real qualifying range.
  • Use same assumptions when shopping lenders: Keep purchase price, taxes, insurance, credit band, and occupancy plan the same so you can judge lender treatment instead of comparing mismatched scenarios.

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Washington Housing Costs & BAH Impact

Washington’s housing costs vary widely. Areas around Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett are among the highest in the nation, while towns near JBLM or Oak Harbor remain more affordable. In 2026, BAH increases were applied to account for higher rents in western Washington and the Puget Sound region. For most enlisted members, BAH is sufficient in suburban areas — but housing in metro ZIPs may exceed the allowance.

BREMERTON, WA BAH Rates

Grade With Dependents Without Dependents
E01 $2,253 $1,866
E02 $2,253 $1,866
E03 $2,253 $1,866
E04 $2,253 $1,866
E05 $2,358 $2,043
E06 $2,661 $2,151
E07 $2,790 $2,253
E08 $2,925 $2,424
E09 $3,069 $2,505
W01 $2,682 $2,229
W02 $2,847 $2,421
W03 $3,015 $2,517
W04 $3,093 $2,685
W05 $3,189 $2,820
O01E $2,811 $2,355
O02E $2,991 $2,487
O03E $3,105 $2,652
O01 $2,400 $2,145
O02 $2,658 $2,328
O03 $3,012 $2,550
O04 $3,219 $2,793
O05 $3,360 $2,868
O06 $3,390 $2,997
O07 $3,417 $3,051

BAH for BREMERTON, WA includes the following zip codes: 98061, 98110, 98310, 98311, 98312, 98314, 98315, 98322, 98337, 98340, 98342, 98345, 98346, 98353, 98359, 98364, 98366, 98367, 98370, 98378, 98380, 98383, 98384, 98386, 98392, 98393, 98524, 98528, 98546, 98548, 98555, 98560, 98584, 98588, 98592.

EVERETT, WA BAH Rates

Grade With Dependents Without Dependents
E01 $2,532 $1,935
E02 $2,532 $1,935
E03 $2,532 $1,935
E04 $2,532 $1,935
E05 $2,712 $2,202
E06 $3,084 $2,367
E07 $3,219 $2,538
E08 $3,360 $2,790
E09 $3,513 $2,895
W01 $3,105 $2,481
W02 $3,276 $2,787
W03 $3,453 $2,910
W04 $3,537 $3,111
W05 $3,645 $3,249
O01E $3,240 $2,709
O02E $3,429 $2,871
O03E $3,552 $3,078
O01 $2,763 $2,349
O02 $3,081 $2,655
O03 $3,447 $2,949
O04 $3,678 $3,222
O05 $3,834 $3,300
O06 $3,870 $3,435
O07 $3,900 $3,498

BAH for EVERETT, WA includes the following zip codes: 98012, 98020, 98026, 98036, 98037, 98043, 98046, 98082, 98087, 98201, 98203, 98204, 98206, 98207, 98208, 98213, 98223, 98241, 98251, 98252, 98256, 98258, 98259, 98270, 98271, 98272, 98275, 98287, 98290, 98291, 98292, 98293, 98294, 98296.

 

PORT ANGELES, WA BAH Rates

Grade With Dependents Without Dependents
E01 $2,022 $1,518
E02 $2,022 $1,518
E03 $2,022 $1,518
E04 $2,022 $1,518
E05 $2,289 $1,716
E06 $2,820 $2,115
E07 $2,856 $2,142
E08 $2,889 $2,397
E09 $2,955 $2,553
W01 $2,841 $2,130
W02 $2,871 $2,394
W03 $2,919 $2,574
W04 $2,973 $2,823
W05 $3,048 $2,862
O01E $2,859 $2,286
O02E $2,910 $2,517
O03E $2,982 $2,814
O01 $2,358 $1,770
O02 $2,814 $2,202
O03 $2,916 $2,628
O04 $3,066 $2,847
O05 $3,171 $2,865
O06 $3,201 $2,898
O07 $3,225 $2,949

BAH for PORT ANGELES, WA includes the following zip codes: 98305, 98324, 98326, 98331, 98343, 98350, 98357, 98362, 98363, 98381, 98382.

SEATTLE, WA BAH Rates

Grade With Dependents Without Dependents
E01 $2,904 $2,235
E02 $2,904 $2,235
E03 $2,904 $2,235
E04 $2,904 $2,235
E05 $3,051 $2,574
E06 $3,795 $2,847
E07 $3,891 $2,919
E08 $3,987 $3,201
E09 $4,140 $3,426
W01 $3,816 $2,865
W02 $3,930 $3,198
W03 $4,050 $3,450
W04 $4,176 $3,813
W05 $4,332 $3,912
O01E $3,903 $3,048
O02E $4,035 $3,375
O03E $4,200 $3,789
O01 $3,141 $2,757
O02 $3,786 $3,006
O03 $4,047 $3,525
O04 $4,383 $3,888
O05 $4,620 $3,942
O06 $4,662 $4,032
O07 $4,701 $4,107

BAH for SEATTLE, WA includes the following zip codes: 98001, 98002, 98003, 98004, 98005, 98006, 98007, 98008, 98009, 98010, 98011, 98013, 98014, 98015, 98019, 98021, 98022, 98023, 98024, 98025, 98027, 98028, 98029, 98030, 98031, 98032, 98033, 98034, 98035, 98038, 98039, 98040, 98041, 98042, 98045, 98047, 98050, 98051, 98052, 98053, 98055, 98056, 98057, 98058, 98059, 98062, 98063, 98064, 98065, 98070, 98071, 98072, 98073, 98074, 98075, 98077, 98083, 98089, 98092, 98093, 98101, 98102, 98103, 98104, 98105, 98106, 98107, 98108, 98109, 98111, 98112, 98113, 98114, 98115, 98116, 98117, 98118, 98119, 98121, 98122, 98124, 98125, 98126, 98127, 98129, 98131, 98133, 98134, 98136, 98138, 98139, 98141, 98144, 98145, 98146, 98148, 98154, 98155, 98158, 98160, 98161, 98164, 98165, 98166, 98168, 98170, 98174, 98175, 98177, 98178, 98181, 98185, 98188, 98190, 98191, 98194, 98195, 98198, 98199, 98224, 98288.

SPOKANE, WA BAH Rates

Grade With Dependents Without Dependents
E01 $1,923 $1,524
E02 $1,923 $1,524
E03 $1,923 $1,524
E04 $1,923 $1,524
E05 $2,160 $1,623
E06 $2,661 $1,995
E07 $2,703 $2,028
E08 $2,745 $2,262
E09 $2,838 $2,409
W01 $2,682 $2,013
W02 $2,721 $2,259
W03 $2,778 $2,427
W04 $2,862 $2,667
W05 $2,970 $2,712
O01E $2,706 $2,157
O02E $2,769 $2,376
O03E $2,877 $2,655
O01 $2,226 $1,686
O02 $2,658 $2,085
O03 $2,775 $2,478
O04 $3,003 $2,697
O05 $3,162 $2,718
O06 $3,189 $2,757
O07 $3,216 $2,808

BAH for SPOKANE, WA includes the following zip codes: 99001, 99003, 99004, 99005, 99006, 99009, 99011, 99012, 99014, 99016, 99018, 99019, 99020, 99021, 99022, 99023, 99025, 99026, 99027, 99030, 99031, 99036, 99037, 99039, 99201, 99202, 99203, 99204, 99205, 99206, 99207, 99208, 99209, 99210, 99211, 99212, 99213, 99214, 99215, 99216, 99217, 99218, 99219, 99220, 99223, 99224, 99228, 99251, 99252, 99256, 99258, 99260.

TACOMA, WA BAH Rates

Grade With Dependents Without Dependents
E01 $2,328 $1,785
E02 $2,328 $1,785
E03 $2,328 $1,785
E04 $2,328 $1,785
E05 $2,508 $2,013
E06 $2,850 $2,160
E07 $2,922 $2,331
E08 $3,000 $2,583
E09 $3,105 $2,676
W01 $2,868 $2,274
W02 $2,955 $2,580
W03 $3,054 $2,688
W04 $3,126 $2,862
W05 $3,222 $2,940
O01E $2,931 $2,505
O02E $3,039 $2,655
O03E $3,138 $2,841
O01 $2,556 $2,142
O02 $2,847 $2,451
O03 $3,051 $2,724
O04 $3,249 $2,919
O05 $3,387 $2,961
O06 $3,417 $3,033
O07 $3,444 $3,087

BAH for TACOMA, WA includes the following zip codes: 98303, 98304, 98321, 98323, 98327, 98328, 98329, 98330, 98332, 98333, 98335, 98338, 98344, 98348, 98349, 98351, 98352, 98354, 98360, 98371, 98372, 98373, 98374, 98375, 98385, 98387, 98388, 98390, 98391, 98394, 98395, 98396, 98397, 98398, 98401, 98402, 98403, 98404, 98405, 98406, 98407, 98408, 98409, 98411, 98412, 98413, 98415, 98416, 98417, 98418, 98419, 98421, 98422, 98424, 98430, 98431, 98433, 98438, 98439, 98443, 98444, 98445, 98446, 98447, 98448, 98464, 98465, 98466, 98467, 98471, 98481, 98490, 98493, 98496, 98497, 98498, 98499, 98501, 98502, 98503, 98504, 98505, 98506, 98507, 98508, 98509, 98511, 98512, 98513, 98516, 98530, 98540, 98556, 98558, 98576, 98579, 98580, 98589, 98597, 98599.

WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA BAH Rates

Grade With Dependents Without Dependents
E01 $1,977 $1,590
E02 $1,977 $1,590
E03 $1,977 $1,590
E04 $1,977 $1,590
E05 $2,028 $1,803
E06 $2,640 $1,980
E07 $2,790 $2,094
E08 $2,943 $2,208
E09 $3,099 $2,334
W01 $2,664 $1,998
W02 $2,853 $2,151
W03 $3,045 $2,358
W04 $3,120 $2,673
W05 $3,210 $2,823
O01E $2,814 $2,112
O02E $3,021 $2,295
O03E $3,132 $2,634
O01 $2,106 $1,923
O02 $2,634 $2,097
O03 $3,042 $2,418
O04 $3,240 $2,793
O05 $3,372 $2,883
O06 $3,402 $3,027
O07 $3,429 $3,084

BAH for WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA includes the following zip codes: 98221, 98222, 98232, 98233, 98235, 98236, 98237, 98238, 98239, 98249, 98253, 98255, 98257, 98260, 98263, 98267, 98273, 98274, 98277, 98278, 98282, 98283, 98284.

YAKIMA, WA BAH Rates

Grade With Dependents Without Dependents
E01 $1,611 $1,209
E02 $1,611 $1,209
E03 $1,611 $1,209
E04 $1,611 $1,209
E05 $1,800 $1,350
E06 $2,286 $1,716
E07 $2,397 $1,797
E08 $2,508 $1,899
E09 $2,664 $2,043
W01 $2,307 $1,731
W02 $2,442 $1,896
W03 $2,583 $2,061
W04 $2,697 $2,310
W05 $2,835 $2,421
O01E $2,412 $1,809
O02E $2,565 $2,010
O03E $2,715 $2,280
O01 $1,863 $1,419
O02 $2,283 $1,800
O03 $2,580 $2,109
O04 $2,880 $2,397
O05 $3,090 $2,460
O06 $3,117 $2,565
O07 $3,141 $2,610

BAH for YAKIMA, WA includes the following zip codes: 98901, 98902, 98903, 98904, 98907, 98908, 98909, 98920, 98921, 98923, 98930, 98932, 98933, 98935, 98936, 98937, 98938, 98939, 98942, 98944, 98947, 98948, 98951, 98952, 98953.

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