SPECOPSLAB

SASR / Commando vs NZSAS

Fitness test and pay side by side. The published minimum fitness standards of SASR / Commando and NZSAS, event by event, with pay where we have it. Higher levels are in the paid report.

AUSTRALIAAustralian Army — Special Forces Operator (SASR, 1st & 2nd Commando Regiment)Special Forces PFA (Pre-entry Fitness Assessment)OFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →NEW ZEALAND1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment (NZSAS)NZDF Assessment Day (A-Day) — NZSAS trade-specific standardOFFICIALlast verified 2026-10-18Open the calculator →

Minimum standards, event by event

EventSASR / CommandoNZSAS
Sit-ups60only this unit—
Push-upsNZSAS: Press-ups40stricter30
Shuttle run (beep test), level.shuttleNZSAS: Multi-Stage Fitness Test (beep test), level.shuttle — e.g. 11.0910.112.01stricter
Over-grasp heaves (pull-ups)6only 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

SASR / Commando sets the higher minimum in: push-ups.

NZSAS sets the higher minimum in: beep test.

SASR / Commando tests 4 events, NZSAS tests 2 events.

Pay

SASR / COMMANDO
A$167,009 / yearWhat an Australian SF operator earns · Lance Corporal · pay grade 8 (Foundation) · incr. 0 · default scenario, gross
NZSAS
NZ$82,481–NZ$98,846 / yearWhat an NZSAS operator earns · Corporal (CPL) · Other Ranks, Sector A Tier 1 – Sector D Tier 3 · Step 5 · default scenario, grosspartly provisional

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

Questions

Is SASR / Commando or NZSAS harder to get into?

SASR / Commando sets the higher minimum in: push-ups. NZSAS sets the higher minimum in: beep test. 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 SASR / Commando and NZSAS fitness tests differ?

SASR / Commando: 4 events (sit-ups, push-ups, beep test, heaves). NZSAS: 2 events (beep test, press-ups).

Does SASR / Commando or NZSAS pay more?

SASR / Commando: A$167,009/year; NZSAS: NZ$82,481–NZ$98,846/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:
SASR / Commando
NZSAS