Military Pay
2025 Military Pay Charts
Military members saw a 4.5% increase in 2025, with junior enlisted members seeing an additional 10% boost in the spring to bring the raise to roughly 14.5%.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates in Iowa increased for 2026. The national average increased by 4.2%, while Iowa duty stations received specific increases listed in the charts below.
Below are the local BAH rates charts for Military Housing Areas in Iowa. The Department of Defense (also known as the Department of War) determines BAH rates by location, pay grade (rank), and if a soldier has dependents.
See 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates here.
DES MOINES, IA BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: IA082
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,593 | $1,284 |
| E02 | $1,593 | $1,284 |
| E03 | $1,593 | $1,284 |
| E04 | $1,593 | $1,284 |
| E05 | $1,770 | $1,359 |
| E06 | $2,208 | $1,656 |
| E07 | $2,292 | $1,719 |
| E08 | $2,379 | $1,863 |
| E09 | $2,511 | $1,989 |
| W01 | $2,229 | $1,674 |
| W02 | $2,328 | $1,860 |
| W03 | $2,436 | $2,007 |
| W04 | $2,538 | $2,223 |
| W05 | $2,667 | $2,310 |
| O01E | $2,304 | $1,767 |
| O02E | $2,418 | $1,962 |
| O03E | $2,559 | $2,202 |
| O01 | $1,830 | $1,413 |
| O02 | $2,205 | $1,722 |
| O03 | $2,433 | $2,049 |
| O04 | $2,706 | $2,289 |
| O05 | $2,904 | $2,334 |
| O06 | $2,925 | $2,415 |
| O07 | $2,943 | $2,454 |
About half the U.S. Counties (about 1,500) have little to no military population. While half of the zip codes are significant, fewer than 2 percent of servicemembers who are eligible for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) reside in these counties. To account for these service members, approximately 30 separate County Cost Groups (CCGs) are assigned, each with similar housing costs. Use the BAH Calculator to enter your zip code to determine your Military Housing Area (MHA), aka County Cost Group. They range from ZZ510 to ZZ890 in increments of 10.
Military bases in Iowa:
- IA MEPS, Des Moines, Iowa
- Mountain Home AFB
BAH rates listed are for all branches of the military, including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, Space Force, and Reserve forces, where applicable. BAH rates in high-cost areas will be much greater than those in low-cost areas.
Veterans, dependents, National Guard members, and reservists can use the MHA Calculator to estimate their monthly payments. Active-duty service members should use the BAH Calculator or tables to estimate their payments. Both BAH and MHA benefits are based on the same payment tables; however, benefit amounts vary based on different calculations.
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Jon Rehagan covers financial topics and military news, aimed at helping those who've served our country and everyday civilians
