The UK Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds determine whether an overseas worker qualifies for sponsorship under the UK's points-based immigration system. These financial requirements set the minimum annual salary employers must offer, alongside occupation-specific going rates published by the Home Office. Through 2026, the standard threshold remains £41,700 per year, or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher, effective from 22 July 2025 for all new Certificates of Sponsorship.

For workers at the start of their careers, see our guide to Skilled Worker visa new entrant salary rules. For sponsorship and salary floor basics, read how the UK Skilled Worker visa works.

This guide explains the current UK Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds in 2026, including standard rates, discounted routes for new entrants and shortage occupations, healthcare and education exceptions, and the new payroll compliance rules introduced in April 2026.

General Salary Threshold for Skilled Workers

The standard minimum salary for most Skilled Worker visa applicants in 2026 is £41,700 per year, or the going rate for the specific occupation code, whichever is higher. This threshold applies to roles at RQF Level 6 (graduate-level qualifications) and above.

In addition to the annual threshold, there is also an hourly floor. The minimum hourly rate is £17.13 per hour based on a standard 37.5-hour working week, up to a maximum of 48 hours per week for calculation purposes. This hourly floor ensures that part-time or variable-hours workers meet proportional salary standards.

Both the annual £41,700 threshold and the £17.13 hourly floor took effect on 22 July 2025 and continue to apply throughout 2026. The requirement applies to all new sponsorship applications submitted on or after that date.

Comparing Salary Against the Going Rate

Applicants must meet both the general threshold and the occupation-specific going rate. The going rate is the minimum salary set by the Home Office for each eligible SOC code, reflecting typical pay levels in the UK labour market.

For example, if a software developer role (SOC 2136) has a going rate of £45,000, the sponsor must offer at least £45,000 even though the general threshold is £41,700. Conversely, if the going rate is £38,000, the sponsor must still pay at least £41,700 to meet the general floor.

Lower Thresholds: New Entrants and Discounted Routes

Some applicants may qualify for a lower salary threshold if they meet specific criteria. These discounted routes allow workers to be paid between 70% and 90% of the standard going rate, provided their salary is at least £33,400 per year.

Who Qualifies as a New Entrant?

New entrants include applicants who:

Are under 26 years old on the date of application
Are working towards a recognised professional qualification or professional training in the UK
Are a recent graduate who completed a UK degree, postgraduate degree, or professional qualification within the last two years, or hold a valid Graduate visa at the time of application

New entrants can be paid 70% of the standard going rate, as long as their salary is at least £33,400 per year. For instance, if the going rate for a role is £50,000, a new entrant must be paid at least £35,000 (70% of £50,000), which clears the £33,400 floor.

The new entrant concession is time-limited. Applicants may use this route only until they have spent four years in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa, or until they turn 26, whichever comes later.

PhD-Level Qualification Discounts

Applicants with a PhD-level qualification may be paid less than the standard threshold, depending on their field of study.

STEM PhD holders can be paid 80% of the job's standard going rate, as long as they are paid at least £33,400 a year.
Non-STEM PhD holders can be paid 90% of the standard going rate, provided their salary is at least £37,500 a year.

STEM subjects include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines as recognised by UK ENIC. The PhD must be equivalent to a UK doctoral degree.

Immigration Salary List (ISL) Occupations

Workers sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List must be paid at least £33,400 per year. The ISL identifies occupations experiencing a labour shortage in the UK, and sponsors may pay workers in these roles 80% of the route's usual minimum rate, provided they meet the £33,400 general floor.

Crucially, workers on the ISL must still be paid 100% of the occupation-specific going rate. The 80% discount applies only to the general threshold, not the going rate itself.

As of 2026, the Immigration Salary List includes occupations such as care workers, certain engineering roles, and health professionals. An expiry date of 31 December 2026 has been set for both the ISL and the Temporary Shortage List, after which the Home Office will review their continuation.

Healthcare and Education Salary Rules

Healthcare and education workers often have different salary rules because their pay is based on national pay scales rather than market-rate going rates.

For roles on the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale or equivalent national scales, the general threshold is £25,000, which corresponds to an hourly rate of £12.82. This lower floor recognises that many healthcare roles are paid according to standardised bands.

The £25,000 floor for healthcare and national pay scale roles took effect on 9 April 2025, replacing the previous £23,200 minimum. The increase applies to both Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa holders.

There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs, where the going rate is based on national pay scales. For example, a nurse on NHS Band 5 will be assessed against the Band 5 salary range, not a private-sector going rate.

Health and Care Worker Visa

The Health and Care Worker visa is a specific route for eligible health professionals. It shares the same salary thresholds as the Skilled Worker visa but offers lower visa fees and exempts applicants from the Immigration Health Surcharge. The £25,000 minimum salary floor applies to Health and Care Worker visa holders employed on national pay scales.

Skill Level Requirements and Temporary Shortage List

From 22 July 2025, the skill threshold for the Skilled Worker route increased from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (graduate-level qualifications). This change means most eligible occupations now require a bachelor's degree or equivalent professional qualification.

To address concerns about mid-skilled labour shortages, the Home Office introduced the Temporary Shortage List (TSL). The TSL provides time-limited access for RQF 3–5 "mid-skilled" occupations where long-term shortages have been identified, and which have been deemed crucial to the delivery of the UK's Industrial Strategy or building critical infrastructure.

Occupations below RQF 6 on the Immigration Salary List will remain in place until December 2026. After that date, the TSL and ISL are scheduled for review and potential consolidation or discontinuation.

Pro-Rata Salary Calculations for Part-Time and Flexible Workers

Part-time and flexible workers must meet the same minimum thresholds on a pro-rata basis. If a role is offered at fewer than 37.5 hours per week, the sponsor must calculate the pro-rated annual salary and ensure it meets both the general threshold and the going rate.

For example, if a role has a going rate of £45,000 for 37.5 hours per week, and the sponsor offers 30 hours per week, the pro-rated salary would be:

(30 ÷ 37.5) × £45,000 = £36,000 per year

This £36,000 must then be compared against the pro-rated general threshold:

(30 ÷ 37.5) × £41,700 = £33,360 per year

Because £36,000 exceeds £33,360, the part-time offer meets the minimum salary requirement. However, if the pro-rated salary falls below either the pro-rated general threshold or the pro-rated going rate, the application will not meet the salary criteria.

Hours beyond a standard 37.5-hour week (up to a maximum of 48 hours) can be included in the calculation, but only guaranteed contractual hours count. Overtime, bonuses, and allowances may be included only if they meet strict conditions set out in the Immigration Rules.

Payroll Compliance and New Rules from April 2026

From 8 April 2026, new payroll compliance provisions took effect under paragraph SW 14.3B of Appendix Skilled Worker. These rules allow Home Office caseworkers to assess whether the minimum salary requirement has been complied with by reviewing both annual salary and specific, defined payroll periods.

Previously, compliance was largely assessed at the point of application. Under the new provisions, the Home Office may examine payroll records retrospectively to ensure that the worker has consistently received the required salary throughout the sponsorship period. This change aims to identify cases where workers are paid below the threshold due to unpaid leave, reduced hours, or other variations.

Sponsors should ensure that payroll systems accurately record and pay the minimum salary in every pay period, and that any deductions (such as unpaid leave) are adjusted to maintain compliance with the threshold. Failure to meet the salary requirement during the visa period may lead to sponsorship licence sanctions or curtailment of the worker's visa.

The March 2026 Statement of Changes HC 1691 introduced these payroll compliance provisions, which are now reflected in updated Home Office caseworker guidance published in May 2026.

Summary Table: UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Thresholds 2026

The table below summarises the main salary thresholds for the UK Skilled Worker visa in 2026.

Applicant Category	Minimum Annual Salary	Minimum Hourly Rate	Effective From	Source
General threshold (RQF 6+)	£41,700 or going rate (whichever is higher)	£17.13 (37.5 hrs/week)	22 July 2025	GOV.UK
New entrants (under 26 / recent graduate / trainee)	£33,400 (70% of going rate if higher)	Pro-rata £17.13	22 July 2025	GOV.UK
STEM PhD holders	£33,400 (80% of going rate)	Pro-rata £17.13	22 July 2025	GOV.UK
Non-STEM PhD holders	£37,500 (90% of going rate)	Pro-rata £17.13	22 July 2025	GOV.UK
Immigration Salary List roles	£33,400 (80% of general threshold; 100% of going rate)	Pro-rata £17.13	22 July 2025	GOV.UK
Healthcare / national pay scales	£25,000	£12.82	9 April 2025	GOV.UK

All figures are based on a standard working week of up to 37.5 hours, with a maximum of 48 hours for calculation purposes.

What Salary Counts Towards the Threshold?

The Home Office has strict rules about which elements of pay count towards the minimum salary threshold. Only guaranteed gross base salary is included by default. This is the fixed annual amount before tax and National Insurance deductions, excluding:

Overtime pay (unless guaranteed and contractual)
Bonuses and commission
Employer pension contributions
Benefits in kind (such as accommodation, meals, or company cars)
Allowances (unless specifically permitted under the Immigration Rules)

Certain allowances may be included if they are guaranteed, part of the employment contract, and meet Home Office criteria. For example, London weighting or shift allowances may count if they are paid regularly and are pensionable.

Sponsors must provide evidence of salary via the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and payslips. The salary must be paid in cash through UK payroll, with appropriate PAYE tax and National Insurance deductions.

Checking the Going Rate for Your Occupation

Every eligible occupation for the Skilled Worker visa has a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and a corresponding going rate. Sponsors and applicants must identify the correct SOC code for the role and check the published going rate.

The Home Office publishes the going rates for eligible occupations on GOV.UK. This table lists each SOC code, occupation title, and the annual going rate. The going rate is typically set at the 25th percentile of pay for that occupation in the UK labour market.

For example:

SOC 2135: IT business analysts, architects and systems designers – going rate £45,800
SOC 2136: Programmers and software development professionals – going rate £41,600
SOC 2142: Environment professionals – going rate £33,000

Sponsors must ensure the offered salary meets or exceeds both the general threshold and the SOC-specific going rate. If the role involves multiple duties across different SOC codes, the sponsor should assign the code that best reflects the majority of the work, and use the corresponding going rate.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Salary Requirements

Skilled Worker visa holders who wish to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years must also meet salary requirements at the point of settlement. The ILR salary threshold is £41,700 per year, or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.

If the applicant qualified for a discounted route (such as new entrant or PhD holder) during their Skilled Worker visa, they must meet the full standard threshold when applying for ILR. There is no new entrant discount for settlement applications.

Healthcare and education workers on national pay scales may still use the £25,000 floor for ILR purposes, provided their role continues to be based on a national pay scale and they meet the relevant going rate.

Common Questions and Scenarios

Can I Switch Jobs and Keep the Same Salary Threshold?

If you change employers or roles while on a Skilled Worker visa, your new sponsor must apply for a new Certificate of Sponsorship. The salary you are offered in the new role must meet the threshold applicable at the time of the new application. If thresholds have increased since your original visa was granted, you may need a higher salary to qualify.

What Happens if My Salary Falls Below the Threshold?

Under the new payroll compliance rules from April 2026, the Home Office may review payroll records during the visa validity period. If your salary falls below the required threshold due to unpaid leave, reduced hours, or a pay cut, your sponsor must notify the Home Office. Failure to maintain the minimum salary may result in visa curtailment or sponsorship licence sanctions.

Do Bonuses and Overtime Count Towards the Threshold?

In most cases, no. Only guaranteed, contractual base salary counts. Overtime and bonuses are excluded unless they are guaranteed, pensionable, and paid regularly as part of the core salary package. Allowances may count if they meet specific Home Office criteria.

Can I Work Part-Time on a Skilled Worker Visa?

Yes, but your pro-rated salary must still meet the minimum thresholds. If you work 30 hours per week instead of 37.5, your annual salary must be at least (30 ÷ 37.5) × the applicable threshold. Both the general threshold and the going rate must be met on a pro-rata basis.

What if My Occupation is on the Immigration Salary List?

If your role is on the Immigration Salary List, you may be paid 80% of the general threshold (i.e. at least £33,400 for most roles), but you must still be paid 100% of the occupation-specific going rate. The ISL concession reduces only the general floor, not the going rate.

The ISL and Temporary Shortage List are scheduled to expire on 31 December 2026, after which the Home Office will review whether to extend, consolidate, or discontinue the lists.

Key Dates and Future Changes

22 July 2025: General threshold increased to £41,700; skill level raised to RQF 6.
9 April 2025: Healthcare and national pay scale floor raised to £25,000.
8 April 2026: New payroll compliance provisions took effect under paragraph SW 14.3B.
31 December 2026: Scheduled expiry date for the Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List.

The Home Office conducts periodic reviews of salary thresholds and occupation lists. Sponsors and applicants should monitor GOV.UK for updates, particularly around the end of 2026 when the ISL and TSL are due for review.

Practical Steps for Sponsors and Applicants

For Employers and Sponsors

Identify the correct SOC code for the role using the ONS occupation coding tool and cross-reference with the GOV.UK going rates table.
Calculate the required salary by comparing the general threshold, the going rate, and any applicable discounts (new entrant, PhD, ISL).
Issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) with the correct salary, SOC code, and eligibility details. Ensure the CoS reflects guaranteed base salary only, excluding bonuses or non-contractual allowances.
Maintain payroll compliance by ensuring the worker receives at least the minimum salary in every pay period. Monitor any changes to hours, unpaid leave, or deductions that could reduce gross pay below the threshold.
Report changes to the Home Office if the worker's salary, hours, or job duties change during the sponsorship period.

For Applicants

Check your eligibility for discounted routes (new entrant, PhD, ISL) before accepting a job offer. Ensure you meet the criteria and have the required evidence (e.g. degree certificates, proof of age).
Review your employment contract to confirm the guaranteed gross base salary, working hours, and any allowances. Ensure the contract matches the details on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Understand pro-rata calculations if you are working part-time or flexible hours. Verify that your pro-rated salary meets both the general threshold and the going rate.
Plan for settlement (ILR) by ensuring your salary meets the full standard threshold (£41,700 or going rate) by the time you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, even if you initially qualified under a discounted route.
Keep payslips and records throughout your visa period. If the Home Office requests evidence of salary compliance, you will need to provide payroll documentation covering the relevant period.

Conclusion

The UK Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds for 2026 set clear financial requirements for overseas workers and their sponsors. The standard threshold of £41,700 per year, or the occupation-specific going rate, whichever is higher, applies to most roles at RQF Level 6 and above. Discounted routes allow new entrants to be paid from £33,400, while healthcare and national pay scale workers benefit from a £25,000 floor.

With the introduction of payroll compliance reviews from April 2026 and the scheduled expiry of the Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List at the end of 2026, sponsors and applicants should remain vigilant about salary requirements and regulatory changes. Always consult the latest GOV.UK guidance and ensure your sponsor is keeping accurate payroll records to maintain compliance throughout the visa period.

Last verified: 2026-05-19

UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Thresholds 2026: Complete Guide