Splatoon 2 salmon run do you have to be in the same rank as your friends in order to play with them?

You may have a lower connection than needed to connect. If you have a high enough connection, then, you do have to have the same rank.

no you do not need to be the same rank as your friend, However there are a few drawbacks to it when you or your friend is lower then the other, Such as the one with the highest rank will get Reduced EXP (it warns u before u join a friend in salmon run about this) and that u might not have much of a challenge beating the wave

if u cant connect with your friend this might be the reasons

• your friend is already ingame
• connection problems midway (not form your switch but between you and him or the server)