UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold 2026

Key Take aways for Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold

The £41,700 minimum salary and higher going‑rate requirements have permanently shifted Skilled Worker sponsorship towards higher‑paid, RQF 6+ roles, making many lower‑salary roles unsponsorable.
Total employer cost per sponsored worker has risen sharply (often £18,000–£20,000 extra per year once NI and pensions are included), forcing HR and finance to rethink salary bands and headcount planning.
Discounts for new entrants, PhD roles, ISL roles, and Health & Care visas still exist but are narrower and riskier to misapply, so accurate SOC coding and real‑time salary compliance monitoring are now critical.
Employers that integrate the new thresholds into long‑term workforce planning using tools like Graduate visas, stronger retention strategies, and premium relocation/benefits will remain competitive in attracting international talent despite tighter rules

The UK Skilled Worker Visa salary threshold is currently £41,700 per year or 100% of the going rate for the role, whichever is higher. This applies to most Skilled Worker applications from July 2025 onwards.

For HR teams and hiring managers, this guide covers:

The current threshold and how it's calculated
Reduced thresholds for new entrants, PhD holders, and ISL roles
The going rate test and how it interacts with the general minimum
What UK skilled workers must be paid each pay period to stay compliant
Total employer cost breakdown, including NI and pension

Salary threshold tiers and exceptions (2026 view)

While £41,700 is now the anchor for most Skilled Worker cases, several important reduced thresholds and exceptions remain in place in 2026, depending on the role, qualifications, and route.

PhD holders
For certain roles where a relevant PhD is demonstrably linked to the job, a reduced minimum can apply, currently £37,500 for a PhD in a relevant subject, with lower thresholds in some STEM/shortage scenarios where permitted by the rules.
Part‑time and pro‑rated salaries
Part‑time roles can be sponsored if the total annual salary is pro‑rated from a full‑time equivalent that meets the general and going‑rate thresholds, and the hourly pay still meets or exceeds the applicable minimum (for many roles, £17.13 per hour).
New entrants and Immigration Salary List roles
New entrants and certain roles on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) benefit from lower thresholds, with some categories set at £33,400 where the role, age, and career stage criteria are met. These discounts are more tightly controlled in 2026, so accurate SOC coding and eligibility checks are critical before relying on them.
Health and Care visa roles
Health and Care Worker Visa roles follow separate salary structures. See our Health and Care Visa guide.

What Must UK Skilled Workers Be Paid Each Pay Period?

The Home Office requires that sponsored workers are paid the required salary in each individual pay period, not just on an annualised average. This is a critical compliance point that catches employers out.

In practice this means:

Pay Frequency	Minimum Gross Pay per Period (at £41,700/year)
Monthly	£3,475
Fortnightly	£1,604
Weekly	£802

If a sponsored worker receives less than the required amount in any single pay period even due to unpaid leave, deductions, or late payment, the employer is in breach of sponsor duties. UKVI can audit payroll records going back four years.

What counts towards the salary threshold:

Basic salary ✓
Guaranteed allowances (e.g. London weighting) ✓

What does not count:

Overtime (unless guaranteed in the contract) ✗
Bonuses (unless guaranteed) ✗
Benefits in kind ✗
Expenses reimbursements ✗

Hiring a skilled worker who is already in the UK on a visa? Discover how to legally navigate the transition in our UK Change of Employer Guide

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UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Thresholds at a Glance (2026)

Applicant Type	Minimum Annual Salary	Notes
Standard Skilled Worker (RQF 6+)	£41,700	Or going rate — whichever is higher
New Entrant (under 26 / recent graduate)	£33,400	Strict eligibility criteria apply
PhD Holder (relevant subject)	£37,500	Must be demonstrably linked to the role
Immigration Salary List (ISL) Role	£33,400	Role must be on the current ISL
Health and Care Worker Visa	From £31,300	Subject to NHS pay scales
Part-Time Role	Pro-rated from above	Hourly rate must be at least £17.13

Beyond the base: how thresholds really work now

The £41,700 figure is only one half of the equation; in 2026, sponsors must still pay whichever is higher of:

The absolute minimum: £41,700 for standard Skilled Worker cases
The occupation‑specific minimum: the going rate for the SOC code, usually expressed as an annual salary and an hourly rate

Budget Planning Matrix

The salary threshold increase alone adds £18,000–£35,000 a year in employer cost per sponsored worker, depending on senioritybefore licence fees, the Immigration Skills Charge, or the Immigration Health Surcharge are added.

Role Category	Previous Minimum Salary	New Typical Minimum Salary	Annual Cost Increase from Salary Rules Alone*
Entry-Level Professional	£26,200	£41,700	£18,000–£20,000
Mid-Level Technical	£26,200	£50,000+	£26,000–£28,000
Senior Specialist	£26,200	£56,000+	£32,000–£35,000

*Illustrative estimates showing the increase in salary costs resulting solely from higher minimum salary thresholds. Actual costs vary depending on the occupation, applicable going rate, and individual remuneration package.

This covers the salary-driven increase only. For the full employer cost breakdown sponsor licence, CoS, Immigration Skills Charge, and visa/IHS costs, see our UK Skilled Worker Visa requirements guide.

Salary Threshold Lookup by SOC Code

Find the going rate and minimum salary your sponsored worker must earn, based on their Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) code.

Salary Option	2026 Requirement	Key Condition
Standard Minimum (Option A)	£41,700 (or the occupation's going rate, if higher)	The salary must meet both the general salary threshold and the applicable going rate for the relevant SOC code.
New Entrant / Immigration Salary List (Option E)	£33,400 + at least 70% of the occupation's going rate	Available only where the applicant qualifies under the New Entrant or Immigration Salary List rules and all eligibility criteria are met.
Health and Care Standard (Option F)	£31,300 + 100% of the occupation's going rate	Applies to eligible Health and Care Worker roles meeting the route-specific salary requirements.
Hourly Pay Floor (Table 1)	£17.13 per hour	Salary calculations generally assume a maximum working pattern of 48 hours per week when assessing compliance with Skilled Worker salary rules.

UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Checker Tool for Employer (by SOC Code)

SOC 2020	Job Role	Sector	Going Rate (Standard)	New Entrant (70%)
`2134`	Software Developer / Programmer / DevOps Engineer	Tech	£49,400 (£25.33/hr)	£34,580
`2133`	IT Business Analyst / Systems Designer	Tech	£47,500 (£24.36/hr)	£33,250
`2135`	IT Project / Programme Manager	Tech	£52,000 (£26.67/hr)	£36,400
`2136`	Cyber Security Analyst / Penetration Tester	Tech	£49,000 (£25.13/hr)	£34,300
`2431`	Architect (Buildings / Urban Design)	Tech	£43,900 (£22.51/hr)	£30,730
`2211`	Medical Practitioner (Hospital Doctor)	Health	£49,923 (pay scale)	£34,946
`2213`	Pharmacist	Health	£46,148 (£23.66/hr)	£32,304
`2231`	Registered Nurse ISL	Health	£31,049 (Band 5 AfC)	£25,000 min
`2217`	Physiotherapist / Occupational Therapist ISL	Health	£37,338 (Band 6 AfC)	£26,137
`2215`	Paramedic	Health	£35,392 (Band 5/6 AfC)	£24,774
`2421`	Chartered / Certified Accountant	Finance	£44,300 (£22.72/hr)	£31,010
`2422`	Tax Adviser / Inspector	Finance	£44,200 (£22.67/hr)	£30,940
`2424`	Management Consultant	Finance	£51,000 (£26.15/hr)	£35,700
`2413`	Financial / Investment Analyst	Finance	£52,500 (£26.92/hr)	£36,750
`1131`	Financial Manager / Director	Finance	£60,500 (£31.03/hr)	£42,350
`2121`	Civil / Structural Engineer	Engineering	£42,500 (£21.79/hr)	£29,750
`2122`	Mechanical Engineer ISL	Engineering	£40,800 (£20.92/hr)	£28,560
`2123`	Electrical / Electronics Engineer ISL	Engineering	£41,700 (£21.38/hr)	£29,190
`2126`	Design & Development Engineer	Engineering	£42,000 (£21.54/hr)	£29,400
`2461`	Data Scientist / Data Engineer	Engineering	£50,000 (£25.64/hr)	£35,000
`2411`	Solicitor / Barrister	Legal	£52,000 (£26.67/hr)	£36,400
`2412`	Legal Professional (Paralegal / Legal Exec)	Legal	£41,700 (£21.38/hr)	£29,190
`2311`	Higher Education Teaching Professional	Education	£43,414 (HE pay scale)	£30,390
`2314`	Secondary School Teacher ISL	Education	£31,650 (MPS/UPS scale)	£25,000 min
`1135`	HR Manager / Director	HR/Ops	£44,100 (£22.62/hr)	£30,870
`2443`	HR / Recruitment Professional	HR/Ops	£41,700 (£21.38/hr)	£29,190
`1132`	Marketing / Sales Director	HR/Ops	£59,300 (£30.41/hr)	£41,510
`2441`	Economist / Statistician	HR/Ops	£47,000 (£24.10/hr)	£32,900

⚠️ Going rates are illustrative based on the 22 July 2025 update (2024 ASHE data). Hourly rates based on a 37.5-hour week. Health roles follow NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) pay bands. Always verify the latest rates in GOV.UK Appendix Skilled Occupations before issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. ISL = on the Immigration Salary List (£33,400 general threshold applies until ISL is abolished).

Disclaimer: Immigration rules change quite frequently; please verify with official sources or contact us for the latest info before making any decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions About UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Thresholds 2026

What if I can’t meet the Skilled Worker salary threshold?

Employers may still qualify through reduced salary routes such as the New Entrant discount, PhD-related reductions, Immigration Salary List roles, or Health & Care Worker rules. However, the role must still meet the required percentage of the occupation’s going rate.

Do salary increases count toward Skilled Worker compliance?

Yes. Salary increases apply from the effective date, but employers must meet the minimum salary requirement during every pay period. Underpayments can create sponsor compliance risks.

How is the Skilled Worker going rate calculated?

Going rates are based on ONS salary data for each SOC occupation code and are updated annually by the Home Office. Employers must pay whichever is higher: the general threshold or the occupation’s going rate.

Can bonuses or allowances count toward the salary threshold?

No. Only guaranteed gross basic pay counts toward Skilled Worker salary requirements. Bonuses, overtime, allowances, expenses, and pension contributions are excluded.

Do the salary rules apply to part-time sponsored workers?

The occupation’s going rate can be pro-rated for part-time hours, but the general minimum salary threshold cannot. Employers must still meet the required annual salary floor.

What happens if the wrong SOC code is used?

Using the wrong SOC code can lead to visa refusals, sponsor licence penalties, or Home Office compliance checks. Employers should match the code to the role’s actual duties, not just the job title.

Eleezay Raza

Eleezay Raza is an Immigration Advisor at Jobbatical, specialising in UK business immigration and Skilled Worker Visa casework for employers with sponsor licences. Previously an Immigration Consultant at MAK25 London, she now handles UK-facing casework at Jobbatical, guiding HR and global mobility teams through Home Office compliance, sponsor licence duties, and salary-threshold changes affecting international hires. Her practice covers Skilled Worker Visa applications and renewals, Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation, Sponsor Management System (SMS) reporting, right-to-work checks, shortage-occupation route analysis, and dependant applications. She publishes practical HR guidance on UK immigration reforms, including the 2025 salary threshold increase to £38,700, the removal of the shortage-occupation discount, and PhD-holder thresholds helping employers adapt sponsorship strategies to shifting UKVI policy.

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