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 South Dakota increased notably for 2026, alongside the national average increase of 4.2%.
Below are the local BAH rates charts for Military Housing Areas in South Dakota. The Department of Defense (also known as the Department of War) determines BAH rates by location, pay grade (rank), and whether a soldier has dependents.
See 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates here.
RAPID CITY/ELLSWORTH AFB, SD BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: SD264
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| E02 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| E03 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| E04 | $1,800 | $1,440 |
| E05 | $1,986 | $1,545 |
| E06 | $2,211 | $1,656 |
| E07 | $2,307 | $1,806 |
| E08 | $2,409 | $2,037 |
| E09 | $2,538 | $2,094 |
| W01 | $2,229 | $1,746 |
| W02 | $2,349 | $2,034 |
| W03 | $2,478 | $2,103 |
| W04 | $2,559 | $2,226 |
| W05 | $2,664 | $2,328 |
| O01E | $2,322 | $1,983 |
| O02E | $2,457 | $2,082 |
| O03E | $2,574 | $2,202 |
| O01 | $2,022 | $1,614 |
| O02 | $2,208 | $1,929 |
| O03 | $2,475 | $2,124 |
| O04 | $2,691 | $2,304 |
| O05 | $2,850 | $2,361 |
| O06 | $2,871 | $2,457 |
| O07 | $2,889 | $2,496 |
SIOUX FALLS, SD BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: SD265
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,428 | $1,107 |
| E02 | $1,428 | $1,107 |
| E03 | $1,428 | $1,107 |
| E04 | $1,428 | $1,107 |
| E05 | $1,554 | $1,224 |
| E06 | $2,025 | $1,518 |
| E07 | $2,055 | $1,542 |
| E08 | $2,085 | $1,653 |
| E09 | $2,169 | $1,791 |
| W01 | $2,046 | $1,536 |
| W02 | $2,067 | $1,650 |
| W03 | $2,109 | $1,809 |
| W04 | $2,193 | $2,028 |
| W05 | $2,307 | $2,061 |
| O01E | $2,058 | $1,551 |
| O02E | $2,100 | $1,758 |
| O03E | $2,211 | $2,019 |
| O01 | $1,617 | $1,296 |
| O02 | $2,022 | $1,545 |
| O03 | $2,106 | $1,854 |
| O04 | $2,340 | $2,046 |
| O05 | $2,511 | $2,064 |
| O06 | $2,529 | $2,085 |
| O07 | $2,544 | $2,118 |
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 two percent of service members who are eligible for Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) reside in these counties. In order to account for these servicemembers there are approximately 30 separate County Cost Groups (CCGs) 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 South Dakota:
- Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, SD
The Basic Allowance for Housing rates listed are applicable to 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
