Rangers vs MARSOC
Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of Rangers and MARSOC, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.
UNITED STATESMinimum standards, event by event
| Event | Rangers | MARSOC |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-release (T) push-ups, 2 min | 41only this unit | — |
| PlankMARSOC: Plank (PFT) | 2:35 | 2:54stricter |
| Pull-upsMARSOC: Pull-ups (PFT) | 6 | 20stricter |
| 5-mile run | 40:00only this unit | — |
| 12-mile foot march, 35 lb rucksack and weapon | 180 minonly this unit | — |
| 3-mile run (PFT) | — | 22:50only this unit |
Events in the same row are similar but not identical — read the event names.
Higher levels (e.g. competitive or elevated standards) and your gap to each are in the paid report.
Where the bar is higher
MARSOC sets the higher minimum in: plank and pull-ups.
Rangers tests 5 events, MARSOC tests 3 events.
Pay
Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.
Questions
Is Rangers or MARSOC harder to get into?
MARSOC sets the higher minimum in: plank and pull-ups. These are only the published fitness minimums; selection itself, medical and other requirements differ, and passing the minimum does not guarantee selection.
How do the Rangers and MARSOC fitness tests differ?
Rangers: 5 events (push-ups, plank, pull-ups, 5-mile run, ruck 12mi). MARSOC: 3 events (pull-ups, plank, 3-mile run).
Does Rangers or MARSOC pay more?
Rangers: $3,980/month (E-4 · >2); MARSOC: $6,640/month (E-5 · >4) (default scenarios, gross). The default scenarios use different ranks and seniority, so this is not a like-for-like comparison — set the same rank in the pay calculator on each unit page.
- 1st class example — 240 points (men 21–25) — MCO 6100.13A w/Admin CH-5 (PFT tables, Table 2-1: 1st class 235–300); MARADMIN 221/07, par. 7.C (2025-05-28)