The Department of Defense is one of the federal government’s largest agencies. With nearly $1.8 trillion in budgetary resources in fiscal 2023, the DOD trails only the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services in annual spending. With 2.7 million Americans working for the Defense Department, about one out of every $11 dollars in the Pentagon’s budget goes toward payroll, including for the more than 1.1 million active-duty service men and women.
Each of the 50 states is home to thousands of Defense Department personnel – from civilian employees and reservists to troops enlisted in each of the major branches of military service. (These are the 25 countries where the most people serve in the military.)
Using data from the DOD report Defense Spending By State Fiscal Year 2021, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most Defense Department personnel. States are ranked by the number of Defense Department personnel in each state, including civilian workers, reservists, and active-duty service members.
While some of the most populous states in the country rank highly on this list, including California, Texas, and Florida, the number of military personnel in a given state is often attributable to the presence of one or more major military bases, some of which house thousands of military personnel and their families. Virginia, for example, is home to the Norfolk Naval Station, the largest Navy base in the world. Partially as a result, the state is home to more Defense Department personnel than all but one other state, even though it does not rank among the 10 largest states by population.
Similarly, New York is the fourth largest state by population. Still, 13 states are home to more military personnel than New York.
The presence of active-duty military and other Defense Department personnel can have a meaningful economic impact. In over half of all states, payroll alone for these individuals brought in over $1 billion in 2021. Including Pentagon spending with military contractors, defense spending accounted for over 11% of Virginia’s total gross domestic product in 2021. (These are the states where the U.S. military spends the most money.)
Click here to see the states with the most military personnel.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
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50. Vermont
> Total military personnel in state: 4,214 (3.0% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 1,288 – 3rd fewest of 50 states (30.6% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 2,617 – 3rd fewest of 50 states (62.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 66 – the fewest of 50 states (1.6% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $196.2 million – the lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Burlington IAP-AGS; U.S. Air Force
> Total population: 645,570 – 2nd smallest of 50 states
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49. New Hampshire
> Total military personnel in state: 6,298 (18.6% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 1,392 – 5th fewest of 50 states (22.1% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 3,030 – 6th fewest of 50 states (48.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 1,534 – 21st fewest of 50 states (24.4% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $311.2 million – 2nd lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; U.S. Navy
> Total population: 1,388,992 – 10th smallest of 50 states
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48. Wyoming
> Total military personnel in state: 7,345 (43.2% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 5,240 – 17th fewest of 50 states (71.3% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 1,937 – the fewest of 50 states (26.4% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 69 – 2nd fewest of 50 states (0.9% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $350.9 million – 3rd lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Francis E Warren Air Force Base
> Total population: 578,803 – the smallest of 50 states
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47. Montana
> Total military personnel in state: 8,982 (37.4% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 4,968 – 15th fewest of 50 states (55.3% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 3,547 – 7th fewest of 50 states (39.5% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 251 – 7th fewest of 50 states (2.8% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $400.5 million – 5th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Malmstrom Air Force Base
> Total population: 1,104,271 – 8th smallest of 50 states
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46. South Dakota
> Total military personnel in state: 9,638 (36.2% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 5,178 – 16th fewest of 50 states (53.7% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 4,118 – 9th fewest of 50 states (42.7% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 90 – 3rd fewest of 50 states (0.9% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $417.7 million – 6th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Ellsworth Air Force Base
> Total population: 895,376 – 5th smallest of 50 states
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45. West Virginia
> Total military personnel in state: 9,728 (1.2% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 2,498 – 8th fewest of 50 states (25.7% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 6,724 – 15th fewest of 50 states (69.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 190 – 5th fewest of 50 states (2.0% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $379.8 million – 4th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: N/A; U.S.
> Total population: 1,782,959 – 12th smallest of 50 states
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44. Delaware
> Total military personnel in state: 10,303 (35.2% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 7,153 – 22nd fewest of 50 states (69.4% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 2,512 – 2nd fewest of 50 states (24.4% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 352 – 9th fewest of 50 states (3.4% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $476.2 million – 9th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Dover Air Force Base
> Total population: 1,003,384 – 6th smallest of 50 states
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43. Idaho
> Total military personnel in state: 10,753 (33.5% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 5,500 – 18th fewest of 50 states (51.1% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 4,668 – 10th fewest of 50 states (43.4% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 338 – 8th fewest of 50 states (3.1% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $470.0 million – 8th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Mountain Home Air Force Base
> Total population: 1,900,923 – 13th smallest of 50 states
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42. Maine
> Total military personnel in state: 12,696 (1.6% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 1,267 – 2nd fewest of 50 states (10.0% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 2,634 – 4th fewest of 50 states (20.7% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 7,787 – 16th most of 50 states (61.3% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $842.8 million – 15th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Brunswhick NAS; U.S. Navy
> Total population: 1,372,247 – 9th smallest of 50 states
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41. Rhode Island
> Total military personnel in state: 12,871 (25.3% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 1,232 – the fewest of 50 states (9.6% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 2,974 – 5th fewest of 50 states (23.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 8,354 – 14th most of 50 states (64.9% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $923.2 million – 17th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Naval Station Newport; U.S. Navy
> Total population: 1,095,610 – 7th smallest of 50 states
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40. Oregon
> Total military personnel in state: 13,091 (6.7% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 2,979 – 10th fewest of 50 states (22.8% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 8,306 – 16th fewest of 50 states (63.4% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 1,447 – 20th fewest of 50 states (11.1% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $577.0 million – 10th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: N/A; U.S.
> Total population: 4,246,155 – 24th smallest of 50 states
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39. Iowa
> Total military personnel in state: 13,155 (1.8% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 2,287 – 7th fewest of 50 states (17.4% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 10,037 – 17th fewest of 50 states (76.3% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 356 – 10th fewest of 50 states (2.7% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $444.3 million – 7th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: N/A; U.S.
> Total population: 3,193,079 – 20th smallest of 50 states
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38. North Dakota
> Total military personnel in state: 13,925 (53.9% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 9,782 – 22nd most of 50 states (70.2% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 3,739 – 8th fewest of 50 states (26.9% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 156 – 4th fewest of 50 states (1.1% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $691.2 million – 12th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Minot Air Force Base
> Total population: 774,948 – 4th smallest of 50 states
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37. Connecticut
> Total military personnel in state: 15,939 (40.1% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 1,379 – 4th fewest of 50 states (8.7% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 5,600 – 12th fewest of 50 states (35.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 8,113 – 15th most of 50 states (50.9% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $875.2 million – 16th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Naval Submarine Base New London; U.S. Navy
> Total population: 3,605,597 – 22nd smallest of 50 states
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36. Nebraska
> Total military personnel in state: 16,608 (38.1% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 9,759 – 23rd most of 50 states (58.8% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 5,833 – 13th fewest of 50 states (35.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 752 – 15th fewest of 50 states (4.5% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $965.9 million – 18th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Offutt Air Force Base
> Total population: 1,963,692 – 14th smallest of 50 states
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35. Wisconsin
> Total military personnel in state: 17,384 (4.3% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 2,792 – 9th fewest of 50 states (16.1% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 13,104 – 21st fewest of 50 states (75.4% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 1,046 – 17th fewest of 50 states (6.0% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $593.9 million – 11th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort McCoy; U.S. Army
> Total population: 5,895,908 – 20th largest of 50 states
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34. Arkansas
> Total military personnel in state: 18,531 (20.6% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 6,940 – 20th fewest of 50 states (37.5% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 10,877 – 19th fewest of 50 states (58.7% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 388 – 11th fewest of 50 states (2.1% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $768.1 million – 14th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Little Rock Air Force Base
> Total population: 3,025,891 – 18th smallest of 50 states
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33. Minnesota
> Total military personnel in state: 21,636 (2.4% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 4,508 – 13th fewest of 50 states (20.8% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 15,260 – 24th fewest of 50 states (70.5% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 1,270 – 18th fewest of 50 states (5.9% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $695.7 million – 13th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Snelling; U.S. Army
> Total population: 5,707,390 – 22nd largest of 50 states
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32. Massachusetts
> Total military personnel in state: 23,304 (9.0% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 8,764 – 24th fewest of 50 states (37.6% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 11,576 – 20th fewest of 50 states (49.7% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 1,772 – 22nd fewest of 50 states (7.6% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.2 billion – 20th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Hanscom Air Force Base
> Total population: 6,984,723 – 15th largest of 50 states
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31. Nevada
> Total military personnel in state: 23,404 (52.8% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 15,151 – 13th most of 50 states (64.7% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 5,475 – 11th fewest of 50 states (23.4% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 2,406 – 24th fewest of 50 states (10.3% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.3 billion – 21st lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Nellis Air Force Base
> Total population: 3,143,991 – 19th smallest of 50 states
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30. New Mexico
> Total military personnel in state: 24,553 (51.5% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 17,254 – 11th most of 50 states (70.3% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 6,237 – 14th fewest of 50 states (25.4% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 475 – 12th fewest of 50 states (1.9% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.5 billion – 23rd lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Cannon Air Force Base
> Total population: 2,115,877 – 15th smallest of 50 states
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29. Michigan
> Total military personnel in state: 26,133 (3.7% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 3,281 – 11th fewest of 50 states (12.6% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 18,965 – 21st most of 50 states (72.6% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 2,015 – 23rd fewest of 50 states (7.7% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.4 billion – 22nd lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Detroit Arsenal; U.S. Army
> Total population: 10,050,811 – 10th largest of 50 states
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28. Tennessee
> Total military personnel in state: 26,752 (8.8% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 4,654 – 14th fewest of 50 states (17.4% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 16,083 – 25th most of 50 states (60.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 5,038 – 21st most of 50 states (18.8% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.2 billion – 19th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Naval Support Activity Mid-South; U.S. Navy
> Total population: 6,975,218 – 16th largest of 50 states
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27. Alaska
> Total military personnel in state: 29,193 (64.8% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 13,733 – 15th most of 50 states (47.0% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 14,532 – 22nd fewest of 50 states (49.8% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 215 – 6th fewest of 50 states (0.7% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.9 billion – 23rd highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Jonathan Wainwright; U.S. Army
> Total population: 732,673 – 3rd smallest of 50 states
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26. Indiana
> Total military personnel in state: 31,044 (3.3% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 4,324 – 12th fewest of 50 states (13.9% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 16,072 – 25th fewest of 50 states (51.8% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 5,791 – 18th most of 50 states (18.7% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.5 billion – 24th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: DFAS Indianapolis Center; U.S. DOD
> Total population: 6,805,985 – 17th largest of 50 states
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25. Utah
> Total military personnel in state: 32,842 (14.1% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 19,688 – 9th most of 50 states (59.9% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 10,669 – 18th fewest of 50 states (32.5% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 818 – 16th fewest of 50 states (2.5% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $2.0 billion – 22nd highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Hill Air Force Base
> Total population: 3,337,975 – 21st smallest of 50 states
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24. New Jersey
> Total military personnel in state: 34,586 (18.7% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 11,598 – 19th most of 50 states (33.5% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 16,352 – 24th most of 50 states (47.3% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 5,685 – 19th most of 50 states (16.4% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $2.0 billion – 21st highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: McGuire Air Force Base
> Total population: 9,267,130 – 11th largest of 50 states
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23. Mississippi
> Total military personnel in state: 36,538 (31.2% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 12,532 – 16th most of 50 states (34.3% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 14,659 – 23rd fewest of 50 states (40.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 8,603 – 13th most of 50 states (23.5% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.8 billion – 25th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Keesler Air Force Base
> Total population: 2,949,965 – 17th smallest of 50 states
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22. Louisiana
> Total military personnel in state: 37,571 (38.2% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 9,547 – 25th most of 50 states (25.4% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 23,102 – 20th most of 50 states (61.5% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 4,248 – 22nd most of 50 states (11.3% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.9 billion – 24th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Polk; U.S. Army
> Total population: 4,624,047 – 25th largest of 50 states
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21. Kansas
> Total military personnel in state: 39,055 (55.4% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 7,071 – 21st fewest of 50 states (18.1% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 30,843 – 12th most of 50 states (79.0% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 526 – 13th fewest of 50 states (1.3% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $2.2 billion – 20th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Riley; U.S. Army
> Total population: 2,934,582 – 16th smallest of 50 states
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20. Missouri
> Total military personnel in state: 42,815 (36.3% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 8,662 – 23rd fewest of 50 states (20.2% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 29,371 – 15th most of 50 states (68.6% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 3,600 – 23rd most of 50 states (8.4% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $1.7 billion – 25th lowest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Leonard Wood; U.S. Army
> Total population: 6,168,187 – 18th largest of 50 states
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19. Arizona
> Total military personnel in state: 44,233 (42.9% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 19,588 – 10th most of 50 states (44.3% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 17,083 – 23rd most of 50 states (38.6% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 5,856 – 17th most of 50 states (13.2% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $2.3 billion – 19th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
> Total population: 7,276,316 – 14th largest of 50 states
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18. Alabama
> Total military personnel in state: 51,606 (15.0% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 9,084 – 25th fewest of 50 states (17.6% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 36,937 – 10th most of 50 states (71.6% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 1,296 – 19th fewest of 50 states (2.5% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $3.5 billion – 12th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Rucker; U.S. Army
> Total population: 5,039,877 – 24th largest of 50 states
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17. Pennsylvania
> Total military personnel in state: 56,573 (3.9% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 6,643 – 19th fewest of 50 states (11.7% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 30,005 – 14th most of 50 states (53.0% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 10,716 – 12th most of 50 states (18.9% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $3.1 billion – 15th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Carlisle Barracks; U.S. Army
> Total population: 12,964,056 – 5th largest of 50 states
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16. Kentucky
> Total military personnel in state: 57,462 (61.0% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 1,678 – 6th fewest of 50 states (2.9% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 53,961 – 4th most of 50 states (93.9% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 593 – 14th fewest of 50 states (1.0% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $3.2 billion – 14th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Campbell; U.S. Army
> Total population: 4,509,394 – 25th smallest of 50 states
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15. Illinois
> Total military personnel in state: 58,960 (36.5% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 11,843 – 18th most of 50 states (20.1% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 24,555 – 19th most of 50 states (41.6% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 20,797 – 9th most of 50 states (35.3% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $2.5 billion – 18th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Naval Station Great Lakes; U.S. Navy
> Total population: 12,671,469 – 6th largest of 50 states
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14. New York
> Total military personnel in state: 60,056 (32.5% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 9,631 – 24th most of 50 states (16.0% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 42,701 – 8th most of 50 states (71.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 5,102 – 20th most of 50 states (8.5% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $3.0 billion – 17th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Drum; U.S. Army
> Total population: 19,835,913 – 4th largest of 50 states
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13. Oklahoma
> Total military personnel in state: 60,790 (35.2% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 29,470 – 6th most of 50 states (48.5% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 25,745 – 18th most of 50 states (42.4% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 3,144 – 24th most of 50 states (5.2% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $3.3 billion – 13th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Sill; U.S. Army
> Total population: 3,986,639 – 23rd smallest of 50 states
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12. Ohio
> Total military personnel in state: 61,589 (10.6% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 30,013 – 5th most of 50 states (48.7% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 18,759 – 22nd most of 50 states (30.5% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 2,776 – 25th most of 50 states (4.5% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $3.6 billion – 11th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
> Total population: 11,780,017 – 7th largest of 50 states
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11. Colorado
> Total military personnel in state: 64,103 (58.7% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 20,295 – 8th most of 50 states (31.7% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 39,730 – 9th most of 50 states (62.0% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 2,657 – 25th fewest of 50 states (4.1% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $4.0 billion – 10th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Carson; U.S. Army
> Total population: 5,812,069 – 21st largest of 50 states
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10. South Carolina
> Total military personnel in state: 66,589 (56.3% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 14,705 – 14th most of 50 states (22.1% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 26,105 – 17th most of 50 states (39.2% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 24,539 – 8th most of 50 states (36.9% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $3.1 billion – 16th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Jackson; U.S. Army
> Total population: 5,190,705 – 23rd largest of 50 states
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9. Hawaii
> Total military personnel in state: 70,484 (57.4% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 9,883 – 21st most of 50 states (14.0% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 26,178 – 16th most of 50 states (37.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 32,615 – 7th most of 50 states (46.3% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $5.3 billion – 9th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Schofield Barracks; U.S. Army
> Total population: 1,441,553 – 11th smallest of 50 states
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
8. Maryland
> Total military personnel in state: 96,310 (30.3% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 15,638 – 12th most of 50 states (16.2% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 35,771 – 11th most of 50 states (37.1% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 34,829 – 6th most of 50 states (36.2% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $8.3 billion – 5th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort George G. Meade; U.S. Army
> Total population: 6,165,129 – 19th largest of 50 states
Source: LoweStock / iStock via Getty Images
7. Washington
> Total military personnel in state: 110,887 (55.7% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 12,001 – 17th most of 50 states (10.8% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 47,733 – 6th most of 50 states (43.0% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 49,309 – 5th most of 50 states (44.5% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $7.4 billion – 7th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Lewis; U.S. Army
> Total population: 7,738,692 – 13th largest of 50 states
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
6. Georgia
> Total military personnel in state: 132,311 (52.4% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 30,646 – 4th most of 50 states (23.2% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 83,819 – 2nd most of 50 states (63.3% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 14,157 – 11th most of 50 states (10.7% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $7.3 billion – 8th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Benning; U.S. Army
> Total population: 10,799,566 – 8th largest of 50 states
Source: Michael Warren / E+ via Getty Images
5. Florida
> Total military personnel in state: 135,855 (47.2% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 46,463 – 2nd most of 50 states (34.2% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 30,509 – 13th most of 50 states (22.5% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 55,958 – 4th most of 50 states (41.2% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $8.4 billion – 4th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Mayport NAVSTA; U.S. Navy
> Total population: 21,781,128 – 3rd largest of 50 states
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
4. North Carolina
> Total military personnel in state: 143,448 (69.1% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 10,427 – 20th most of 50 states (7.3% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 70,897 – 3rd most of 50 states (49.4% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 56,157 – 3rd most of 50 states (39.1% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $7.6 billion – 6th highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Bragg; U.S. Army
> Total population: 10,551,162 – 9th largest of 50 states
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
3. Texas
> Total military personnel in state: 221,892 (52.7% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 62,575 – the most of 50 states (28.2% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 134,806 – the most of 50 states (60.8% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 18,899 – 10th most of 50 states (8.5% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $12.2 billion – 3rd highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Fort Hood; U.S. Army
> Total population: 29,527,941 – 2nd largest of 50 states
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
2. Virginia
> Total military personnel in state: 251,230 (50.3% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 22,800 – 7th most of 50 states (9.1% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 53,504 – 5th most of 50 states (21.3% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 148,077 – 2nd most of 50 states (58.9% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $20.1 billion – the highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Naval Station Norfolk; U.S. Navy
> Total population: 8,642,274 – 12th largest of 50 states
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Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images
1. California
> Total military personnel in state: 277,943 (56.6% active duty)
> Air Force personnel: 41,018 – 3rd most of 50 states (14.8% of military personnel in state)
> Army personnel: 46,196 – 7th most of 50 states (16.6% of military personnel in state)
> Navy & Marine Corps personnel: 183,945 – the most of 50 states (66.2% of military personnel in state)
> Total DOD payroll spending in state: $17.2 billion – 2nd highest of 50 states
> Major military installation in state: Camp Pendleton; U.S. Marine Corps
> Total population: 39,237,836 – the largest of 50 states
Methodology
To determine the states with the most military personnel, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Defense Department’s report, Defense Spending By State Fiscal Year 2021. States are ranked by the number of Defense Department personnel in each state, including civilian workers, reservists, and active duty service men and women.
Supplementary data on DOD payroll spending by state, and personnel counts for each of the major branches – which also includes both civilian workers and active-duty members – are also from the report.
We also reviewed data from the 2019 DOD report Demographics Profile of the Military Community to identify major military installations in each state. No installation is listed for states where no DOD facility has at least 100 active-duty troops.
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