Compare military bases / Military bases by state / South Carolina
Military bases in South Carolina: installations, personnel and BAH
The major military installations in South Carolina 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
- South Carolina hosts 39,128 active-duty members, the 9th most of any state, plus 17,772 Guard and reserve members and 9,631 DoD civilians (August 31, 2026).
- The Marine Corps is the largest branch here (10,515 active duty, 27% of the state's total).
- Active-duty personnel changed by +692 (+1.8%) since September 30, 2025.
- Among the 5 bases in our directory here, 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ranges from $1,503 at Shaw Air Force Base to $2,403 at MCAS Beaufort.
Military bases in South Carolina
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Jackson | Army | Columbia | $1,878 | $1,647 | $2,232 | $1,276 |
| Joint Base Charleston | Joint | Charleston | $2,385 | $1,941 | $2,721 | $1,787 |
| MCAS Beaufort | Marine Corps | Beaufort | $2,403 | $2,103 | $2,856 | $1,816 |
| MCRD Parris Island | Marine Corps | Beaufort | $2,403 | $2,103 | $2,856 | $1,816 |
| Shaw Air Force Base | Air Force | Sumter | $1,503 | $1,290 | $2,052 | $1,276 |
Active-duty personnel in South Carolina by branch
| Branch | Active duty | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Corps | 10,515 | 26.9% |
| Army | 10,208 | 26.1% |
| Air Force | 8,896 | 22.7% |
| Navy | 8,183 | 20.9% |
| Coast Guard | 1,322 | 3.4% |
| Space Force | 4 | 0.0% |
How to read these numbers
- The base list covers major installations we profile, not every DoD site in South Carolina.
- Personnel counts are statewide and include members at sites not listed here.
Common questions
How many military bases are in South Carolina?
Our directory covers 5 major installations in South Carolina: Fort Jackson, Joint Base Charleston, MCAS Beaufort, MCRD Parris Island, Shaw Air Force Base. Official DoD inventories also list smaller sites, reserve centers and Guard facilities.
How many active-duty military are in South Carolina?
39,128 as of August 31, 2026 (DMDC), ranking 9 of 50 states and D.C.
Which branch has the most members in South Carolina?
The Marine Corps, with 10,515 active-duty members. Next is the Army (10,208).
What is BAH in South Carolina in 2026?
For an E-5 with dependents, from $1,503 to $2,403 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.