Royal Marines vs SEAL
Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of Royal Marines and SEAL, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.
UNITED KINGDOM
UNITED STATESMinimum standards, event by event
| Event | Royal Marines | SEAL |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-stage fitness test (bleep), level | 11only this unit | — |
| Pull-ups (overhand)SEAL: Pull-ups (no time limit) | 5 | 10stricter |
| Push-upsSEAL: Push-ups (2 min) | 40 | 50stricter |
| Sit-ups | 50only 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: pull-ups and push-ups.
Royal Marines tests 4 events, SEAL tests 5 events.
Pay
Amounts are in each country’s own currency and are not converted.
Questions
Is Royal Marines or SEAL harder to get into?
SEAL sets the higher minimum in: 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 Royal Marines and SEAL fitness tests differ?
Royal Marines: 4 events (bleep, pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups). SEAL: 5 events (swim, push-ups, curl-ups, pull-ups, run 1.5mi).
Does Royal Marines or SEAL pay more?
Royal Marines: £27,282/year; SEAL: $6,901/month (default scenarios, gross). The amounts are in different currencies and depend on taxes and cost of living, so we do not rank them.
- Minimum — royalnavy.mod.uk — Commando Recruit Orientation Phase (2026-10-18)
- 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