These Are Virginia’s Top Counties for Defense Department Jobs

Thousands of Department of Defense (DOD) employees, including both civilians and active-duty service members, are stationed in each of the 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C. However, Virginia is the state with the second most stationed personnel in the country with 247,200 national defense personnel as of 2023. The Pentagon, located in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. is the headquarters for the DOD. The Pentagon employs nearly 2.6 million individuals and has an annual budget of over $870 billion. (Also see the 10 counties in California with the most military and civilian Defense Department personnel.)

However, many of these jobs are likely to be affected by recent government cuts. The Associated Press (AP) reported on March 18, 2025, that around 50,000 to 60,000 civilian jobs will be cut in the DOD. The Pentagon plans to not fill jobs of workers who voluntarily leave. A senior defense official told the AP that likely thousands of military veterans will be among the civilians who are let go. With so many employed by the DOD in Virginia, the state is likely to see some impact from the upcoming job losses.

24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of the 10 counties and county-equivalents in Virginia with the most military and civilian Defense Department personnel. We used data from Defense Spending by State, a recent report from the DOD (current as of fiscal 2023.) Counties and independent cities for which personnel data was not disclosed were excluded from our analysis. And finally, the total population counts for each county came from 2023 data (or 2024 when it was available) from the U.S. Census Bureau.

(This article was updated on March 24, 2025, to reflect recent news regarding the loss of Department of Defense civilian jobs, including those held by veterans.)

Why it Matters Now

A significant share of the Pentagon’s budget goes to payroll for the 2.6 million American men and women who work for the national defense. In fiscal 2023 alone, the Department of Defense spent over $167.4 billion on employee salaries and wages. While this money is spread across the 50 states, it has an outsized impact in places that have emerged as hubs for U.S. military operations. Economists predict that job losses of federal employees in places like Virginia, and other areas with high federal employment, can have an impact on local economies and businesses. Not only will jobless Americans spend less money, but mass layoffs can have a possible negative influence on people’s view of the strength of the economy, causing a curtailing in spending.

10. Accomack County

• Total Defense Department personnel: 7,735 (3.1% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 6,359 (5.2% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 100 (1.2% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 1,173 (7.0% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 103 (0.1% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: $1,087,689,949 (5.1% of DOD payroll statewide)
• Total Population (as of 2024): 33,411

9. York County

• Total Defense Department personnel: 10,894 (4.4% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 8,249 (6.8% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 996 (11.8% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 920 (5.5% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 729 (0.7% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: $752,371,944 (3.5% of DOD payroll statewide)
• Total Population (as of 2024): 71,410

8. Newport News City

• Total Defense Department personnel: 11,116 (4.5% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 6,249 (5.1% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 192 (2.3% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 1,063 (6.4% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 3,612 (3.6% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: $848,425,131 (4.0% of DOD payroll statewide)
• Total Population (as of 2023): 183,118

7. Prince George County

• Total Defense Department personnel: 12,301 (5.0% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 8,355 (6.9% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 0 (0% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 502 (3.0% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 3,444 (3.4% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: N/A
• Total Population (as of 2024): 43,589

6. Prince William County

• Total Defense Department personnel: 13,261 (5.4% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 7,945 (6.5% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 151 (1.8% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 724 (4.3% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 4,441 (4.4% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: $956,452,817 (4.5% of DOD payroll statewide)
• Total Population (as of 2024): 497,003

5. Portsmouth City

• Total Defense Department personnel: 17,000 (6.9% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 3,833 (3.1% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 159 (1.9% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 20 (0.1% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 12,988 (12.9% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: $1,454,772,481 (6.8% of DOD payroll statewide)
• Total Population (as of 2023): 96,793

4. Arlington County

• Total Defense Department personnel: 19,378 (7.8% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 2,628 (2.2% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 72 (0.9% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 118 (0.7% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 16,560 (16.5% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: $2,423,463,821 (11.4% of DOD payroll statewide)
• Total Population (as of 2024): 239,807

3. Fairfax County

• Total Defense Department personnel: 21,709 (8.8% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 5,849 (4.8% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 787 (9.3% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 2,898 (17.4% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 12,175 (12.1% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: $2,363,208,127 (11.1% of DOD payroll statewide)
• Total Population (as of 2024): 1,160,925

2. Virginia Beach City

• Total Defense Department personnel: 29,492 (11.9% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 20,078 (16.5% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 822 (9.8% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 4,696 (28.2% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 3,896 (3.9% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: $2,155,030,974 (10.1% of DOD payroll statewide)
• Total Population (as of 2023): 453,649

1. Norfolk City

• Total Defense Department personnel: 65,035 (26.3% of DOD personnel statewide)
• Active-duty personnel: 46,440 (38.1% of active-duty personnel statewide)
• National Guard personnel: 299 (3.6% of National Guard personnel statewide)
• Reservist personnel: 1,017 (6.1% of reservist personnel statewide)
• Civilian DOD personnel: 17,279 (17.2% of civilian personnel statewide)
• Total Defense Department payroll: $5,144,654,254 (24.1% of DOD payroll statewide)
• Total Population (as of 2023): 230,930

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