Where the Most U.S. Military Personnel Live in Each State

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By Sam Stebbins Published
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Where the Most U.S. Military Personnel Live in Each State

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U.S. Armed Forces Day is coming up on May 17, 2025. This is a special day that honors the men and women who are currently serving in the United States military. The first Armed Forces Day was held on May 20, 1950, and while some traditions have changed over the years, the purpose of the day remains the same: to recognize the hard work, commitment, and bravery of all those who are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces today. (These are the states with the most armed forces personnel.)

Using data from the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Defense Spending by State report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the county (or similar area) with the highest number of DOD employees in each state. This includes active-duty military, reservists, and National Guard members. All data is current as of fiscal 2023. It is important to note that the DOD does not disclose complete data for every county. So, for the top counties in three states — Ohio, Utah, and Vermont — personnel counts reflect a minimum estimate. Information for U.S. territories was pulled from the DOD’s Supplemental Spending Report.

This is an updated version of a previously published article, now reflecting the most current data available in preparation for Armed Forces Day.

Why This Matters Today

US pentagon | The Pentagon
Digital Vision. / Photodisc via Getty Images

Knowing which counties have the most military personnel is important, particularly as we prepare for Armed Forces Day on May 17, 2025. The U.S. government spends a lot of money on the salaries of the 2.6 million people who work for the nation’s defense — over $167 billion in 2023 alone! While this money goes to people all over the country, it makes a tremendous difference in the places where large numbers of military personnel live and work. Understanding this can help us better appreciate the important role these communities play in supporting our armed forces as we celebrate their service on Armed Forces Day.

These are the counties in each state with the most U.S. military personnel:

Alabama: Madison County

  • DOD personnel in county: 15,904 (31.7% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 4.3% active-duty, 88.7% civilian, 4.2% reservists, 2.8% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $1.8 billion (48.6% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $14.4 billion (14th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Redstone Arsenal

Alaska: Anchorage Borough

  • DOD personnel in borough: 18,136 (61.3% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 63.9% active-duty, 17.5% civilian, 4.1% reservists, 14.5% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in borough: $1.3 billion (60.5% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $4.7 billion (21st lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in borough: Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson

Arizona: Maricopa County

  • DOD personnel in county: 15,717 (38.4% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 31.1% active-duty, 15.2% civilian, 31.0% reservists, 22.7% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $769.7 million (32.8% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $17.0 billion (8th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Luke Air Force Base

Arkansas: Pulaski County

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • DOD personnel in county: 10,016 (56.4% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 35.3% active-duty, 19.9% civilian, 13.7% reservists, 31.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $535.7 million (66.4% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $1.7 billion (8th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Little Rock Air Force Base

California: San Diego County

Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr
  • DOD personnel in county: 112,645 (41.7% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 71.3% active-duty, 20.7% civilian, 7.1% reservists, 0.9% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $7.7 billion (42.3% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $60.8 billion (3rd highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Colorado: El Paso County

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • DOD personnel in county: 44,819 (77.3% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 66.6% active-duty, 20.6% civilian, 10.5% reservists, 2.2% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $3.3 billion (81.7% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $12.6 billion (16th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Peterson Space Force Base

Connecticut: New London County

  • DOD personnel in county: 6,906 (47.6% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 57.7% active-duty, 22.3% civilian, 4.3% reservists, 15.6% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $478.8 million (57.3% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $25.3 billion (6th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Naval Submarine Base New London

Delaware: Kent County

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • DOD personnel in county: 5,950 (61.2% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 56.0% active-duty, 16.7% civilian, 25.1% reservists, 2.2% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $350.8 million (71.5% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $800 million (2nd lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Dover Air Force Base

Florida: Duval County

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • DOD personnel in county: 28,005 (21.3% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 47.5% active-duty, 31.5% civilian, 14.3% reservists, 6.8% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $2.0 billion (22.5% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $32.3 billion (4th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Naval Air Station Jacksonville

Georgia: Muscogee County

Fort+benning | Liberian delegation visits Fort Benning - 090806
US Army Africa / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 26,046 (20.7% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 78.8% active-duty, 16.1% civilian, 3.1% reservists, 2.1% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $1.3 billion (17.0% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $15.3 billion (11th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Fort Moore

Hawaii: Honolulu County

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • DOD personnel in county: 65,950 (90.3% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 56.7% active-duty, 30.4% civilian, 5.9% reservists, 7.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $5.6 billion (91.2% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $10.0 billion (21st highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam

Idaho: Ada County

Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons
  • DOD personnel in county: 4,288 (41.5% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 1.3% active-duty, 21.5% civilian, 14.6% reservists, 62.7% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $176.0 million (33.4% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $900 million (4th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Mountain Home Air Force Base

Illinois: Lake County

  • DOD personnel in county: 21,483 (37.9% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 74.4% active-duty, 7.3% civilian, 17.3% reservists, 1.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $610.4 million (24.4% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $10.5 billion (19th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Naval Station Great Lakes

Indiana: Marion County

Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images
  • DOD personnel in county: 7,587 (26.0% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 3.0% active-duty, 53.2% civilian, 15.6% reservists, 28.3% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $457.6 million (29.1% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $6.4 billion (23rd lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: USAREC, Indianapolis Battalion

Iowa: Polk County

Des+Moines+Air+National+Guard+Base | Iowa National Guard
The National Guard / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 4,767 (36.8% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 1.7% active-duty, 14.8% civilian, 16.0% reservists, 67.5% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $179.0 million (42.8% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $3.4 billion (15th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Des Moines Air National Guard Base

Kansas: Geary County

wellesenterprises / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

  • DOD personnel in county: 16,600 (45.3% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 84.8% active-duty, 13.7% civilian, 0.7% reservists, 0.8% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $1.0 billion (46.6% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $3.9 billion (16th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Fort Riley

Kentucky: Christian County

Fort+Campbell | Army Materiel Command Leadership Visits Fort Campbell Warfighters
U.S. Army Materiel Command / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 29,456 (54.9% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 91.4% active-duty, 8.0% civilian, 0.3% reservists, 0.3% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $2.0 billion (60.3% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $14.6 billion (13th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Fort Campbell

Louisiana: Vernon Parish

scguard / Public Domain / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in parish: 8,672 (24.2% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 83.0% active-duty, 15.7% civilian, 0.3% reservists, 1.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in parish: $544.4 million (30.3% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $4.0 billion (18th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in parish: Fort Johnson

Maine: York County

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

  • DOD personnel in county: 7,430 (60.1% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 0.3% active-duty, 96.6% civilian, 1.9% reservists, 1.2% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $662.9 million (73.6% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $4.2 billion (19th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Maryland: Anne Arundel County

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • DOD personnel in county: 25,291 (27.1% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 48.5% active-duty, 35.5% civilian, 14.2% reservists, 1.7% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $2.2 billion (25.2% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $27.8 billion (5th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Fort Meade

Massachusetts: Middlesex County

Hanscom+Air+Force+Base | File:HanscomP40.jpg
Jonathan Mooney / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

  • DOD personnel in county: 9,766 (44.0% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 12.1% active-duty, 48.5% civilian, 18.4% reservists, 21.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $742.3 million (58.0% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $16.8 billion (9th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Hanscom Air Force Base

Michigan: Macomb County

Selfridge+Air+National+Guard+Base | At Selfridge Air National Guard Base with A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot Col. Douglas Champagne. (20653287373)
Senator Stabenow / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons

  • DOD personnel in county: 9,550 (38.8% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 2.2% active-duty, 71.5% civilian, 11.3% reservists, 15.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $858.8 million (57.6% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $8.1 billion (25th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Selfridge Air National Guard Base

Minnesota: Hennepin County

RudyBalasko / iStock via Getty Images

  • DOD personnel in county: 5,951 (29.2% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 4.8% active-duty, 10.7% civilian, 53.8% reservists, 30.8% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $242.7 million (36.7% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $2.4 billion (11th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: US Army Reserve Center

Mississippi: Harrison County

Public Domain via United States Air Force
  • DOD personnel in county: 12,616 (36.0% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 58.5% active-duty, 18.8% civilian, 15.5% reservists, 7.2% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $635.5 million (34.5% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $8.9 billion (22nd highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Keesler Air Force Base

Missouri: Pulaski County

Fort+Leonard+Wood | Midwest Storm Striked Fort Leonard Wood [Image 1 of 6]
DVIDSHUB / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 13,102 (33.3% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 72.2% active-duty, 22.7% civilian, 3.1% reservists, 2.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $634.6 million (37.2% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $13.3 billion (15th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Fort Leonard Wood

Montana: Cascade County

  • DOD personnel in county: 5,012 (57.8% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 63.6% active-duty, 16.4% civilian, 1.0% reservists, 18.9% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $283.2 million (66.4% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $800 million (3rd lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Malmstrom Air Force Base

Nebraska: Sarpy County

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • DOD personnel in county: 9,492 (57.5% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 65.9% active-duty, 27.0% civilian, 5.8% reservists, 1.4% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $744.8 million (71.5% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $2.5 billion (12th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Offutt Air Force Base

Nevada: Clark County

Robert Sullivan / Public Domain / Flickr
  • DOD personnel in county: 17,950 (79.5% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 60.2% active-duty, 11.6% civilian, 17.0% reservists, 11.2% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $1.2 billion (82.7% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $3.3 billion (14th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Nellis Air Force Base

New Hampshire: Rockingham County

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
  • DOD personnel in county: 2,884 (46.1% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 15.5% active-duty, 12.5% civilian, 33.3% reservists, 38.7% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $131.1 million (39.1% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $2.5 billion (13th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Pease Air Force Base

New Jersey: Burlington County

  • DOD personnel in county: 15,830 (47.8% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 33.6% active-duty, 17.1% civilian, 38.4% reservists, 10.9% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $908.1 million (43.1% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $8.5 billion (24th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

New Mexico: Bernalillo County

  • DOD personnel in county: 8,305 (33.7% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 39.0% active-duty, 38.0% civilian, 8.8% reservists, 14.2% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $599.0 million (37.2% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $4.6 billion (20th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Kirtland Air Force Base

New York: Jefferson County

Fort+Drum | Springtime at Fort Drum
DVIDSHUB / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 16,785 (28.9% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 85.3% active-duty, 13.0% civilian, 1.2% reservists, 0.5% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $1.0 billion (33.1% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $15.2 billion (12th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Fort Drum

North Carolina: Cumberland County

Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images News via Getty Images

  • DOD personnel in county: 57,257 (43.4% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 77.3% active-duty, 17.9% civilian, 3.7% reservists, 1.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $4.3 billion (55.6% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $12.5 billion (17th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Fort Liberty

North Dakota: Ward County

Minot+Air+Force+Base+North+Dakota | 60-0056 Boeing B-52H B.W. 155 Stratofortress Black Widow 23rd Bomb Squadron Minot Air Force Base North Dakota
TDelCoro / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 6,470 (48.6% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 83.5% active-duty, 10.8% civilian, 0.4% reservists, 5.3% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $395.4 million (56.6% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $1.1 billion (6th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Minot Air Force Base

Ohio: Greene County

Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
  • DOD personnel in county: 22,632 (38.1% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 22.7% active-duty, 66.9% civilian, 10.3% reservists, 0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $2.1 billion (54.7% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $11.7 billion (18th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Oklahoma: Oklahoma County

  • DOD personnel in county: 29,132 (49.4% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 21.1% active-duty, 64.0% civilian, 7.2% reservists, 7.8% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $2.1 billion (58.4% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $7.3 billion (26th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Tinker Air Force Base

Oregon: Multnomah County

Portland+Air+National+Guard+Base | Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice visits the Portland Air National Guard Base
Oregon National Guard / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 4,084 (35.1% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 6.4% active-duty, 34.3% civilian, 15.5% reservists, 43.8% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $241.7 million (43.6% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $1.6 billion (7th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Portland Air National Guard Base

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Overlooking Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

  • DOD personnel in county: 9,887 (18.7% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 3.4% active-duty, 82.1% civilian, 0.6% reservists, 13.8% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $910.1 million (28.3% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $21.8 billion (7th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Naval Support Activity Philadelphia

Rhode Island: Newport County

U.S. Navy / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • DOD personnel in county: 8,501 (65.5% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 30.7% active-duty, 56.6% civilian, 11.2% reservists, 1.5% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $826.5 million (81.4% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $1.8 billion (9th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Naval Station Newport

South Carolina: Richland County

  • DOD personnel in county: 20,976 (30.8% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 58.4% active-duty, 15.9% civilian, 9.3% reservists, 16.4% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $865.3 million (26.4% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $6.5 billion (24th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Fort Jackson

South Dakota: Meade County

  • DOD personnel in county: 3,353 (36.3% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 95.7% active-duty, 0.4% civilian, 0.6% reservists, 3.3% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $205 million (48.6% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $1.0 billion (5th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Ellsworth Air Force Base

Tennessee: Shelby County

exothermic / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 6,568 (24.6% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 21.3% active-duty, 39.3% civilian, 19.5% reservists, 19.8% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $436.3 million (36.1% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $4.0 billion (17th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Naval Support Activity Mid-South

Texas: Bexar County

  • DOD personnel in county: 67,694 (32.0% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 48.4% active-duty, 33.9% civilian, 13.5% reservists, 4.2% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $4.5 billion (36.4% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $71.6 billion (the highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Joint Base San Antonio

Utah: Davis County

  • DOD personnel in county: 19,150 (59.1% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 21.2% active-duty, 72.1% civilian, 6.7% reservists, 0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $1.5 billion (72.4% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $8.6 billion (23rd highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Hill Air Force Base

Vermont: Chittenden County

US+air+national+guard | Vermont National Guard
The National Guard / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 2,734 (73.0% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 2.4% active-duty, 18.6% civilian, 0% reservists, 79.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $122.7 million (79.1% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $600 million (the lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Vermont Air National Guard, South Burlington

Virginia: Norfolk City

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  • DOD personnel in city: 65,035 (26.3% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 71.4% active-duty, 26.6% civilian, 1.6% reservists, 0.5% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in city: $5.1 billion (24.1% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $68.5 billion (2nd highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in city: Naval Station Norfolk

Washington: Pierce County

Joint+Base+Lewis-McChord+Washington | Officer Candidates from 205th RTI activate the Regiment for OCS Phase 3
Washington National Guard / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 43,891 (41.8% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 66.4% active-duty, 15.5% civilian, 11.4% reservists, 6.8% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $3.1 billion (40.3% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $15.5 billion (10th highest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Joint Base Lewis–McChord

West Virginia: Kanawha County

  • DOD personnel in county: 2,211 (23.0% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 1.2% active-duty, 18.2% civilian, 15.2% reservists, 65.4% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $103.9 million (27.3% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $1.8 billion (10th lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: McLaughlin Air National Guard Base

Wisconsin: Dane County

Wisconsin+military+ | Wisconsin National Guard
thenationalguard / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 3,564 (22.2% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 2.9% active-duty, 16.8% civilian, 19.2% reservists, 61.0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $153.4 million (25.9% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $4.8 billion (22nd lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Truax Field

Wyoming: Laramie County

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • DOD personnel in county: 5,906 (83.0% of DOD personnel in state)
  • DOD personnel by type: 50.2% active-duty, 17.3% civilian, 2.0% reservists, 30.5% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $329.4 million (91.0% of statewide personnel payroll)
  • Total DOD spending in state: $599.1 million (lowest of 50 states)
  • Military installation in county: Francis E. Warren Air Force Base

District of Columbia

thenationalguard / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr

  • DOD personnel in county: 25,188
  • DOD personnel by type: 35% active-duty, 52% civilian, 4% reservists, 9% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in county: $2.7 billion
  • Total DOD spending in state: $10.4 billion
  • Military installation in county: Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Bonus: U.S. Territories

Pearl Harbor with American flag and U.S.S. Missouri
Joel Carillet / E+ via Getty Images

It’s easy to focus on U.S. states when talking about military populations, but U.S. territories also play an important role. For example, Guam is a key strategic location in the Pacific with major U.S. military bases. While the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa don’t have large bases, they do have active National Guard and Reserve units. Here’s a look at the five U.S. territories and their military personnel.

American Samoa

sorincolac / iStock via Getty Images

  • DOD personnel in territory: 30
  • DOD personnel by type: 3.3% active-duty, 60% civilian, 36% reservists, 0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in territory: $769,400
  • Total DOD spending in territory: $1.1 million (lowest of 5 territories)
  • Military installation in territory: Fiatele Taulago Te’o U.S. Army Reserve Center

Guam

October 20, 2009 - The fast-attack submarine USS Los Angeles (SSN 688) transits near Apra Harbor, Guam after returning from an underway period.
Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images

  • DOD personnel in territory: 9,271
  • DOD personnel by type: 65% active-duty, 29% civilian, 4.5% reservists, 0.3% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in territory: $753.6 million
  • Total DOD spending in territory: $3.1 billion (highest of 5 territories)
  • Military installation in territory: Andersen Air Force Base

Northern Mariana Islands

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

  • DOD personnel in territory: 13
  • DOD personnel by type: 46% active-duty, 54% civilian, 0% reservists, 0% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in territory: $562,600
  • Total DOD spending in territory: $317.0 million (3rd highest of 5 territories)
  • Military installation in territory: NA

Puerto Rico

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

  • DOD personnel in territory: 7,196
  • DOD personnel by type: 1% active-duty, 31% civilian, 17% reservists, 51% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in territory: $244.4 million
  • Total DOD spending in territory: $1.8 million (2nd highest of 5 territories)
  • Military installation in territory: Fort Buchanan

U.S. Virgin Islands

cdwheatley / E+ via Getty Images

  • DOD personnel in territory: 238
  • DOD personnel by type: 1.7% active-duty, 56.7% civilian, 31.5% reservists, 10% National Guard
  • Personnel payroll in territory: $13.7 million
  • Total DOD spending in territory: $23.9 million (2nd lowest of 5 territories)
  • Military installation in territory: NA
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About the Author Sam Stebbins →

Sam Stebbins is a writer at a673b.bigscoots-temp.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.

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