Rangers vs SEAL
Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of Rangers and SEAL, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.
UNITED STATESMinimum standards, event by event
| Event | Rangers | SEAL |
|---|---|---|
| Hand-release (T) push-ups, 2 minSEAL: Push-ups (2 min) | 41 | 50stricter |
| Plank | 2:35only this unit | — |
| Pull-upsSEAL: Pull-ups (no time limit) | 6 | 10stricter |
| 5-mile run | 40:00only this unit | — |
| 12-mile foot march, 35 lb rucksack and weapon | 180 minonly this unit | — |
| 500 yd swim (side/breaststroke) | — | 12:30only this unit |
| Curl-ups (2 min) | — | 50only this unit |
| 1.5 mi run | — | 10:30only 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
SEAL sets the higher minimum in: push-ups and pull-ups.
Rangers tests 5 events, SEAL tests 5 events.
Pay
Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.
Questions
Is Rangers or SEAL harder to get into?
SEAL sets the higher minimum in: push-ups 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 SEAL fitness tests differ?
Rangers: 5 events (push-ups, plank, pull-ups, 5-mile run, ruck 12mi). SEAL: 5 events (swim, push-ups, curl-ups, pull-ups, run 1.5mi).
Does Rangers or SEAL pay more?
Rangers: $3,980/month (E-4 · >2); SEAL: $6,901/month (E-5 · >3) (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.
- Minimum — MILPERSMAN 1220-410 CH-77 (2021-12-03)
- Elevated (EPST) — navy.com — Navy SEAL (EPST) (2026-09-20)
- Average candidate (enlisted) — sealswcc.com — SEAL and SWCC PST Standards (2022-05-05) · APPROXIMATE