Compare military bases / Military bases by state / California
Military bases in California: installations, personnel and BAH
The major military installations in California in our directory, with 2026 housing allowance and Defense Manpower Data Center personnel counts by branch.
Data vintage: DMDC personnel as of August 31, 2026 (compared with September 30, 2025); BAH effective January 1, 2026; HUD FY2026 fair market rents. Last checked 2026-10-27 by The CompareTheData team.
Data: DMDC, DTMO and HUD. Jump to sources · Methodology
Key takeaways
- California hosts 166,510 active-duty members, the 1st most of any state, plus 54,596 Guard and reserve members and 57,016 DoD civilians (August 31, 2026).
- The Navy is the largest branch here (79,005 active duty, 47% of the state's total).
- Active-duty personnel changed by +2,945 (+1.8%) since September 30, 2025.
- Among the 12 bases in our directory here, 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ranges from $1,980 at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms to $3,975 at MCAS Miramar.
Military bases in California
Click a column heading to sort. Open a base for schools, weather, taxes and PCS comparisons.
| Base | Branch | Nearest city | BAH E-5 with dependents | BAH E-5 without | BAH O-3 with dependents | HUD fair market rent, 2BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beale Air Force Base | Air Force | Marysville | $2,967 | $2,367 | $3,165 | $1,550 |
| Camp Pendleton | Marine Corps | Oceanside | $3,963 | $3,093 | $4,659 | $3,001 |
| Edwards Air Force Base | Air Force | Edwards | $2,658 | $2,148 | $3,264 | $1,483 |
| Fort Irwin | Army | Barstow | $2,001 | $1,695 | $2,748 | $2,201 |
| MCAGCC Twentynine Palms | Marine Corps | Twentynine Palms | $1,980 | $1,782 | $2,814 | $2,201 |
| MCAS Miramar | Marine Corps | San Diego | $3,975 | $3,147 | $4,518 | $3,001 |
| MCRD San Diego | Marine Corps | San Diego | $3,975 | $3,147 | $4,518 | $3,001 |
| NAS Lemoore | Navy | Lemoore | $2,139 | $1,680 | $2,451 | $1,469 |
| Naval Base San Diego | Navy | San Diego | $3,975 | $3,147 | $4,518 | $3,001 |
| Naval Base Ventura County | Navy | Point Mugu | $3,537 | $3,018 | $4,212 | $2,693 |
| Travis Air Force Base | Air Force | Fairfield | $3,369 | $2,664 | $3,537 | $2,178 |
| Vandenberg Space Force Base | Space Force | Lompoc | $3,333 | $2,778 | $3,780 | $3,124 |
Active-duty personnel in California by branch
| Branch | Active duty | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Navy | 79,005 | 47.4% |
| Marine Corps | 57,100 | 34.3% |
| Air Force | 16,346 | 9.8% |
| Army | 7,523 | 4.5% |
| Coast Guard | 5,070 | 3.0% |
| Space Force | 1,466 | 0.9% |
How to read these numbers
- The base list covers major installations we profile, not every DoD site in California.
- Personnel counts are statewide and include members at sites not listed here.
Common questions
How many military bases are in California?
Our directory covers 12 major installations in California: Beale Air Force Base, Camp Pendleton, Edwards Air Force Base, Fort Irwin, MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, MCAS Miramar, MCRD San Diego, NAS Lemoore, Naval Base San Diego, Naval Base Ventura County, Travis Air Force Base, Vandenberg Space Force Base. Official DoD inventories also list smaller sites, reserve centers and Guard facilities.
How many active-duty military are in California?
166,510 as of August 31, 2026 (DMDC), ranking 1 of 50 states and D.C.
Which branch has the most members in California?
The Navy, with 79,005 active-duty members. Next is the Marine Corps (57,100).
What is BAH in California in 2026?
For an E-5 with dependents, from $1,980 to $3,975 a month at the bases listed here. See all 2026 BAH rates.
Related
Sources
- DMDC, Military and Civilian Personnel by Service and Location (by state), August 2026 and September 2025. as of August 31, 2026; prior September 30, 2025.
- Defense Travel Management Office, 2026 BAH rates (ASCII file, all locations and pay grades). effective January 1, 2026.
- HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026.