SPECOPSLAB

CSOR vs Royal Marines

Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of CSOR and Royal Marines, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.

CANADACanadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) — Special Forces OperatorCANSOFCOM PFSE 3OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →UNITED KINGDOMRoyal Marines CommandoRoyal Marines Fitness Test (RMFT)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →

Minimum standards, event by event

EventCSORRoyal Marines
Relative handgrip (both hands, % of body mass + 20 kg)100 %only this unit—
Standard load squats (72 kg, 42 bpm metronome)11only this unit—
Pull-ups (continuous)Royal Marines: Pull-ups (overhand)5same5same
Sit-ups (1 min)Royal Marines: Sit-ups4050stricter
Push-ups (continuous, no time limit)Royal Marines: Push-ups40same40same
20 m shuttle run (level reached)Royal Marines: Multi-stage fitness test (bleep), level911stricter
Ruck march 12 km with 35 kg (minutes)144 minonly 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

Royal Marines sets the higher minimum in: sit-ups and bleep.

Same minimum: pull-ups and push-ups.

CSOR tests 7 events, Royal Marines tests 4 events.

Pay

CSOR
CA$9,254 / monthWhat a CSOR Special Forces Operator earns · Corporal (pay level 5A) · Basic · default scenario, gross
ROYAL MARINES
£27,282 / yearWhat a Royal Marine earns · OR2 · Marine / Private · OR2-01 · default scenario, gross

Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.

Questions

Is CSOR or Royal Marines harder to get into?

Royal Marines sets the higher minimum in: sit-ups and bleep. Same minimum: pull-ups and push-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 CSOR and Royal Marines fitness tests differ?

CSOR: 7 events (grip, squat 72, pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, shuttle 20, ruck 12km). Royal Marines: 4 events (bleep, pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups).

Does CSOR or Royal Marines pay more?

CSOR: CA$9,254/month; Royal Marines: £27,282/year (default scenarios, gross). The amounts are in different currencies and depend on taxes and cost of living, so we do not rank them.

Sources:
CSOR
Royal Marines