Skilled Worker visa salary for programmers and software development professionals (SOC 2134)
Going rates from the GOV.UK table, last verified 29 May 2026. General thresholds checked 5 Sept 2026.
Salary floor for this code
£54,700 a year
The going rate for this occupation is above the general threshold, so the going rate sets the floor.
| Going rate (standard) | £54,700 a year |
|---|---|
| Going rate, published hourly figure | £28.05 an hour |
| Going rate (new entrant) | £38,300 a year |
| General threshold | £41,700 a year |
| Reduced general threshold (new entrants) | £33,400 a year |
| Lower band for new entrants in this code | £38,300 a year |
| On the Immigration Salary List | No |
Sources: GOV.UK going rates · GOV.UK salary requirements
What current programmers and software development professionals adverts pay
Across 62 current listings for this code that state an annual salary, the median advertised figure is £60,200, and 39 advertise £54,700 or more. Ranges are counted at their lowest figure. 9 NHS pay-scale posts are left out: those are assessed against the NHS scale, not the general figure. See the current listings.
How the salary rule works
A Skilled Worker role must pay at least the higher of the going rate for its occupation code and the general threshold. The going rate comes from the Home Office table for the code; the general threshold is the same for every code. Lower figures apply in set cases, such as new entrants, and the job’s hours, the candidate’s circumstances and the other requirements all matter. These figures describe the code; they are not a decision about any person or offer. GOV.UK has the full rules.
More about programmers and software development professionals
Salaries for related occupations
- IT business analysts, architects and systems designersSOC 2133 · floor £54,900
- Cyber security professionalsSOC 2135 · floor £48,500
- IT managersSOC 2132 · floor £55,000
- IT quality and testing professionalsSOC 2136 · floor £41,700
- IT project managersSOC 2131 · floor £58,200
- IT network professionalsSOC 2137 · floor £45,600