SPECOPSLAB

EKO Cobra vs KSK

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

AUSTRIAEKO Cobra / DSE (Bundesministerium für Inneres) — EinsatzbeamterPolice Fitness-Check (Polizeigrundausbildung) — entry route; Cobra limits not publicAPPROXIMATElast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →GERMANYKommando Spezialkräfte (KSK) — KommandosoldatPFV Phase 1 — minimum standards (Kommandosoldat)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →

Minimum standards, event by event

EventEKO CobraKSK
Push-ups (Liegestütze)KSK: Push-ups, hand-release (30 s)1522stricter
3,000 m run (Laufen)15:15only this unit—
Pull-ups (overhand, from dead hang)—7only this unit
Sit-ups (30 s)—20only this unit
Coordination course—2:00only this unit
Casualty transport (approx. 38 m, 2 obstacles)—2:00only this unit
200 m swim in combat uniform (+ undress in water)—7:30only this unit
20 km march with 20 kg—210 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

KSK sets the higher minimum in: push-ups.

EKO Cobra tests 2 events, KSK tests 7 events.

Pay

EKO COBRA
€3,271 / monthWhat an EKO Cobra officer earns · Inspektor / Revierinspektor (E 2b) · GS 3 · default scenario, grosspartly provisional
KSK
€4,541 / monthWhat a KSK commando soldier (Kommandosoldat) earns · Oberfeldwebel (A 7) · Stufe 3 · default scenario, grosspartly provisional

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

Questions

Is EKO Cobra or KSK harder to get into?

KSK sets the higher minimum in: 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 EKO Cobra and KSK fitness tests differ?

EKO Cobra: 2 events (push-ups, run 3k). KSK: 7 events (pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, coord, casualty, swim 200, march 20k).

Does EKO Cobra or KSK pay more?

EKO Cobra: €3,271/month (Inspektor / Revierinspektor (E 2b) · GS 3); KSK: €4,541/month (Oberfeldwebel (A 7) · Stufe 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.

Sources:
EKO Cobra
KSK