Compare military bases / Military bases by state / Washington
Military bases in Washington: installations, personnel and BAH
The major military installations in Washington 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
- Washington hosts 55,745 active-duty members, the 7th most of any state, plus 16,390 Guard and reserve members and 30,148 DoD civilians (August 31, 2026).
- The Army is the largest branch here (24,515 active duty, 44% of the state's total).
- Active-duty personnel changed by −1,611 (−2.8%) since September 30, 2025.
- Among the 5 bases in our directory here, 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ranges from $2,073 at NAS Whidbey Island to $2,748 at Naval Station Everett.
Military bases in Washington
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairchild Air Force Base | Air Force | Spokane | $2,184 | $1,665 | $2,844 | $1,531 |
| Joint Base Lewis-McChord | Joint | Tacoma | $2,556 | $2,121 | $3,123 | $1,971 |
| NAS Whidbey Island | Navy | Oak Harbor | $2,073 | $1,905 | $3,105 | $1,671 |
| Naval Base Kitsap | Navy | Bremerton | $2,364 | $2,091 | $3,045 | $2,031 |
| Naval Station Everett | Navy | Everett | $2,748 | $2,277 | $3,567 | $2,501 |
Active-duty personnel in Washington by branch
| Branch | Active duty | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 24,515 | 44.0% |
| Navy | 21,939 | 39.4% |
| Air Force | 6,740 | 12.1% |
| Coast Guard | 1,834 | 3.3% |
| Marine Corps | 715 | 1.3% |
| Space Force | 2 | 0.0% |
How to read these numbers
- The base list covers major installations we profile, not every DoD site in Washington.
- Personnel counts are statewide and include members at sites not listed here.
Common questions
How many military bases are in Washington?
Our directory covers 5 major installations in Washington: Fairchild Air Force Base, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, NAS Whidbey Island, Naval Base Kitsap, Naval Station Everett. Official DoD inventories also list smaller sites, reserve centers and Guard facilities.
How many active-duty military are in Washington?
55,745 as of August 31, 2026 (DMDC), ranking 7 of 50 states and D.C.
Which branch has the most members in Washington?
The Army, with 24,515 active-duty members. Next is the Navy (21,939).
What is BAH in Washington in 2026?
For an E-5 with dependents, from $2,073 to $2,748 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.