Updated March 19, 2026 with Official DoD Rates
Fort Wainwright Overseas Pay & OHA Rates 2026
Complete military compensation breakdown for Fort Wainwright, Alaska. See your OHA (housing allowance), OCONUS COLA, Basic Pay, BAS, and tax advantages — all from official DoD sources.
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About this tool: The Overseas Station Planner combines data from DFAS (basic pay), DTMO (OHA and OCONUS COLA), and current exchange rates to give you a complete financial picture for any overseas duty station. This replaces the need to visit 4–6 different .gov websites.
Fort Wainwright OHA Rates by Pay Grade — 2026
Source: Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), effective 2026. Rates in USD. Fluctuate with exchange rates.
| Pay Grade Tier | With Dep. Rent Ceiling | W/o Dep. Rent Ceiling | Utility Allow. | MIHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-4 (Junior Enlisted) | $1,450 | $1,200 | $370 | $300 |
| E-5 to E-6 (NCO) | $1,650 | $1,380 | $410 | $330 |
| E-7 to E-9 (Senior NCO) | $1,900 | $1,600 | $450 | $370 |
| W-1 to W-3 (Warrant Officer) | $1,950 | $1,650 | $450 | $370 |
| W-4 to W-5 (Senior Warrant) | $2,100 | $1,800 | $480 | $400 |
| O-1 to O-3 (Company Grade) | $2,000 | $1,700 | $470 | $390 |
| O-4 to O-6 (Field Grade) | $2,450 | $2,050 | $530 | $440 |
| O-7+ (General/Flag Officer) | $3,050 | $2,550 | $610 | $510 |
How OHA works: Unlike BAH, OHA reimburses your actual rent up to the ceiling — not a fixed payment. If your rent is below the ceiling, you receive only what you pay. The Utility/Maintenance Allowance is a flat monthly amount regardless of actual utility costs. MIHA (Move-In Housing Allowance) is a one-time payment to help with security deposits and setup costs.
Fort Wainwright OCONUS COLA — Cost of Living
COLA Index
140
Cost Above US Baseline
Index Effective Date
August 16, 2025
OCONUS COLA is a non-taxable allowance that offsets higher overseas living costs. Your actual COLA amount depends on pay grade, years of service, and number of dependents. Source: DTMO, January 2026. Index updated multiple times per year.
Additional Allowances & Data Sources
| BAS (Enlisted) | $453/mo — tax-free. Source: DFAS, effective Jan 1, 2026. |
| BAS (Officer) | $312/mo — tax-free. Source: DFAS, effective Jan 1, 2026. |
| Basic Pay | DFAS 2026 pay tables (3.8% increase). Varies by grade and years of service. |
| OHA Rates | DTMO, effective 2026. Rates fluctuate with currency exchange rates. |
| COLA Index | DTMO, January 2026. Updated multiple times per year based on local costs and exchange rates. |
Understanding Your Pay at Fort Wainwright
When you PCS to Fort Wainwright in Alaska, your compensation package shifts from stateside allowances to overseas allowances. Instead of BAH, you receive OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance). You may also receive OCONUS COLA to help cover the higher cost of everyday goods and services.
OHA vs BAH at Fort Wainwright
The biggest difference: BAH is a fixed monthly amount you keep regardless of your actual rent. OHA only reimburses what you actually pay, up to the rental ceiling. If your rent at Fort Wainwright is below the OHA ceiling, you receive less than the maximum. If it exceeds the ceiling, you pay the difference out of pocket. OHA rates also fluctuate with the US Dollar exchange rate.
Tax Advantages at Fort Wainwright
A major financial benefit of serving at Fort Wainwright: OHA, OCONUS COLA, and BAS are all tax-free. Only your Basic Pay is subject to federal income tax. For a typical service member, this means roughly 40-60% of total compensation is non-taxable — a civilian would need to earn significantly more to match your take-home pay.
About Fort Wainwright
Welcome to Fort Wainwright, Alaska located in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska, which is currently ranked as one of the top 100 growing cities in the United States. Fort Wainwright’s population includes the following units and supported commands: US Army Alaska (USARAK); 1-25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team; USARAK Aviation Task Force; Medical Department Activity—Alaska and Bassett Army Community Hospital Dental Activity (DENTAC); Veterinary Command (VETCOM), Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC); Cold Regions Test Center (CRTC), 402nd Army Field Support Battalion; Network Enterprise Center - FWA, 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron (USAF), Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), U.S. Army Reserve , BLM Alaska Fire Service, and Arctic Support Command. We hope this guide assists...
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