The business of national defense has a big impact on the Charleston area economy as the combination of military personnel and defense contractors makes up 29,000 local jobs and adds 3.5 billion in economic activity to the Charleston area.

Here are the top five military employers in the Charleston area:

1. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR) - 10,000 personnel - payrole of 939 million

2. Charleston Air Force Base - 7920 personnel - payroll of 297 million

3. Navy Nuclear Power Training Command - 2700 personnel - payroll of 108 million

4. Navy Nuclear Power Training Unit - 2270 personnel - payroll of 90 million

5. Ralph H. Johnson VA medical Center - 1066 personnel - 89 million

More: Naval Hospital, Charleston

US Coast Guard