The UK skilled worker visa salary threshold increased to £41,700 from 22 July 2025, representing a significant change for employers and applicants planning sponsored employment in the UK. Understanding these salary requirements—including the going rate system, tradeable points options, and available discounts—is essential for ensuring visa applications meet Home Office criteria and avoid costly refusals.
Understanding the UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold in 2026
The Skilled Worker visa enables overseas nationals to work in the UK for an approved sponsor employer. Meeting the salary requirements is one of the most scrutinised aspects of any application, with incorrect calculations among the leading causes of visa refusals.
From 22 July 2025, the Home Office implemented substantial changes to the Skilled Worker route, increasing the general salary threshold from £38,700 to £41,700 per year. Applicants must now meet both this cash threshold and the occupation-specific going rate for their SOC code—whichever is higher applies.
The salary framework operates through five main options (Options A–E) for standard roles and additional options (Options F–J) for health, care, and transitional arrangements. Understanding which option applies to your circumstances determines the minimum salary you must earn.
What Is the UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold?
The UK skilled worker visa salary threshold is £41,700 per year as of January 2026. Applicants must earn at least this amount or 100% of the occupation's going rate—whichever figure is higher. A minimum hourly rate of £17.13 also applies for most roles when calculated against a 48-hour working week.
The Skilled Worker visa salary requirement operates on a dual-threshold system. Meeting the £41,700 annual minimum alone is not sufficient if the going rate for your occupation code exceeds this amount. For example, if your role has a going rate of £45,000, you must earn at least £45,000 regardless of the general threshold.
2026 Salary Thresholds Summary Table
Transitional arrangements provide lower thresholds for workers who held Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) permission before certain dates. Those with a Certificate of Sponsorship issued before 4 April 2024 may benefit from a transitional general threshold of £31,300, while earlier entrants may qualify for even lower rates until these provisions expire.
How Does the Going Rate Affect Your Salary Requirement?
The going rate is the occupation-specific salary benchmark assigned to each SOC 2020 code by the Home Office, based on median UK earnings data. You must meet whichever is higher: the going rate for your occupation or the general salary threshold. Going rates are calculated on a 37.5-hour week and must be pro-rated if your contracted hours differ.
Every eligible occupation in Appendix Skilled Occupations has an assigned going rate published in the official going rates table. The Home Office derives these figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data, updating them periodically to reflect current market salaries.
Finding Your Occupation's Going Rate
To determine the going rate for your role, first identify the correct SOC 2020 code using the CASCOT occupation coding tool or by matching your job duties against the descriptions in Appendix Skilled Occupations. The SOC code determines which going rate applies to your application.
- Table 1 occupations: Standard going rates based on 37.5-hour reference week
- Table 2 occupations: Health and education roles using national pay scales (NHS Agenda for Change, teacher pay scales)
- Table 3 occupations: Medical practitioners assessed against 40-hour reference week
Pro-Rating for Different Working Hours
If your contracted weekly hours differ from the reference hours for your occupation, the going rate must be pro-rated accordingly. For Table 1 roles based on a 37.5-hour week, divide the annual going rate by 37.5 and multiply by your actual contracted hours. This adjusted figure becomes your minimum going rate requirement.
Example calculation: An occupation with a going rate of £42,000 (based on 37.5 hours) where the applicant works 40 hours weekly would calculate: £42,000 ÷ 37.5 × 40 = £44,800 minimum going rate requirement.
What Tradeable Points Can Reduce Your Salary Requirement?
Tradeable points allow certain applicants to qualify with lower salaries by demonstrating additional value such as doctoral qualifications, new entrant status, or roles on the Immigration Salary List. These options reduce the general threshold to £33,400 or £37,500 and allow 70%, 80%, or 90% of the going rate instead of the full 100%.
The Skilled Worker visa uses a points-based system requiring 70 points for eligibility. While 50 points come from mandatory criteria (sponsorship and eligible job), the remaining 20 points are earned through salary. Tradeable points options provide alternative pathways to achieve these salary points at reduced thresholds.
New Entrant Salary Discount
New entrants can qualify with a minimum salary of £33,400 and 70% of the going rate. This category includes applicants who are under 26 years old at the date of application, those switching from a Graduate visa or Student visa, or those in professional training programmes leading to a UK-recognised qualification.
PhD Holder Discounts
Applicants holding doctoral qualifications can benefit from reduced thresholds, provided their PhD is relevant to the sponsored role and the occupation code is eligible for PhD points in Appendix Skilled Occupations:
- PhD in a relevant subject (Option B): £37,500 minimum and 90% of the going rate
- STEM PhD (Option C): £33,400 minimum and 80% of the going rate
UK PhDs require a certificate or academic reference as evidence. Overseas PhDs must be verified through UK ENIC, with the reference number stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Immigration Salary List Roles
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) replaced the former Shortage Occupation List and identifies occupations experiencing genuine labour shortages. Roles on the ISL benefit from a reduced general threshold of £33,400 but must still meet 100% of the going rate—the ISL discount applies only to the cash threshold, not the going rate percentage.
The ISL is scheduled to expire on 31 December 2026. Employers should verify whether their occupation remains listed before relying on ISL discounts, as the Home Office can remove entries with limited notice.
How to Calculate Your Salary for a Skilled Worker Visa
Only guaranteed basic gross salary counts toward the skilled worker visa salary threshold. Overtime, bonuses, allowances, and benefits-in-kind are excluded from calculations. If you work more than 48 hours per week, only the first 48 hours' salary is considered for the general threshold test, though all hours count toward the going rate calculation.
Salary calculation errors represent one of the most common causes of Skilled Worker visa refusals. The Home Office applies strict rules about which pay elements qualify, and sponsors must ensure the salary stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship accurately reflects compliant earnings.
- ✓ Guaranteed basic gross pay (PAYE salary)
- ✓ Salary sacrifice scheme amounts (still counted)
- ✗ Overtime payments (even if guaranteed)
- ✗ Bonuses and commission
- ✗ Allowances (accommodation, relocation, living costs)
- ✗ Benefits-in-kind (company car, health insurance, equity)
- ✗ Employer pension contributions and NI
- ✗ One-off payments (signing bonuses, visa fee reimbursements)
The 48-Hour Weekly Limit
When assessing whether salary meets the general threshold (£41,700), only the first 48 hours per week are considered. However, when assessing against the going rate, all contracted hours are included. This distinction is important for roles with longer working weeks, as the two tests can produce different results.
The minimum hourly rate of £17.13 applies to most Table 1 occupations under Options A–E. This is calculated based on maximum 48 working hours per week, meaning the annual equivalent of £17.13 per hour for 48 hours equals approximately £42,804 annually.
Transitional Salary Arrangements
Workers who held Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) permission before key dates benefit from transitional salary thresholds when extending their visa or changing employers. These arrangements recognise that individuals took employment decisions based on rules in force at the time and provide a pathway to continue working lawfully.
- CoS before 4 April 2024: Transitional general threshold of £31,300
- Earlier Tier 2 migrants: May benefit from even lower transitional rates (£28,200 or £25,000 depending on circumstances)
- Expiry dates: Various transitional provisions expire between 2026 and 2030 depending on the specific arrangement
It is essential to verify which transitional option applies to your circumstances, as incorrectly relying on a lower threshold can result in visa refusal. Professional immigration advice is particularly valuable for complex transitional cases where multiple rules may interact.
New B2 English Language Requirement (From 8 January 2026)
From 8 January 2026, new first-time Skilled Worker visa applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B2 (upper-intermediate, equivalent to A-level standard). This is a significant increase from the previous B1 requirement (GCSE equivalent). Applicants can meet this through a Secure English Language Test (SELT), a degree taught in English, or citizenship of a majority-English-speaking country.
Immigration Skills Charge (Updated December 2025)
The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) increased by 32% from December 2025. Medium and large sponsors now pay £1,320 per year per sponsored worker (up from £1,000), while small sponsors and charities pay £480 per year (up from £364). This charge cannot be passed to the sponsored worker and must be paid when assigning the Certificate of Sponsorship.
- The standard skilled worker visa salary threshold is £41,700 as of January 2026
- You must meet both the general threshold AND the going rate for your occupation
- Tradeable points options can reduce requirements to £33,400 or £37,500
- Only guaranteed basic gross salary counts—no bonuses or allowances
- New applicants from 8 January 2026 must meet B2 English (up from B1)
- The Immigration Salary List expires 31 December 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa in 2026?
The minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa is £41,700 per year as of January 2026. However, applicants must also meet the going rate for their specific occupation code, whichever figure is higher. Reduced thresholds of £33,400 or £37,500 may apply for new entrants, PhD holders, and roles on the Immigration Salary List.
What is the going rate for a Skilled Worker visa?
The going rate is the occupation-specific salary benchmark assigned to each SOC 2020 code by the Home Office. It represents median UK earnings for that occupation and is published in the official going rates table. Applicants must meet 100% of the going rate for standard applications, or reduced percentages (70%, 80%, or 90%) if they qualify for tradeable points options.
Can I earn less than £41,700 and still get a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes, reduced salary thresholds apply in certain circumstances. New entrants (under 26, Graduate/Student visa switchers, or in professional training) can qualify with £33,400. PhD holders may qualify with £37,500 (relevant PhD) or £33,400 (STEM PhD). Immigration Salary List roles also benefit from a £33,400 threshold. However, you must still meet the required percentage of the going rate for your occupation.
How long can I use the new entrant salary rate?
The new entrant rate applies for a maximum of four years, including any time previously spent on a Graduate visa. After this period expires, you must meet the standard salary threshold (£41,700) and 100% of the going rate for any visa extension or settlement application. This transition should be planned for early to ensure continued eligibility.
Do bonuses count toward the Skilled Worker visa salary requirement?
No, bonuses do not count toward the salary requirement. Only guaranteed basic gross pay (PAYE salary) is included in the calculation. Excluded items include overtime payments (even if guaranteed), bonuses, commission, allowances, benefits-in-kind such as company cars or health insurance, employer pension contributions, and one-off payments like signing bonuses or visa fee reimbursements.
What is the minimum hourly rate for a Skilled Worker visa?
The minimum hourly rate for most Table 1 Skilled Worker occupations is £17.13 per hour, calculated based on a maximum 48-hour working week. This applies to standard applications under Options A–E. If the calculated hourly figure based on annual salary and contracted hours falls below £17.13, the application will not meet requirements regardless of the annual salary offered.
What is the English language requirement for Skilled Worker visa in 2026?
From 8 January 2026, new first-time Skilled Worker visa applicants must demonstrate CEFR level B2 English proficiency (equivalent to A-level standard), increased from the previous B1 requirement. This applies to entry applications only—those extending their visa can continue at B1 level. Graduate visa holders switching to Skilled Worker route must meet B2 if applying from January 2026 onwards.
When does the Immigration Salary List expire?
The Immigration Salary List is scheduled to expire on 31 December 2026. Individual occupation entries may be removed earlier if the Home Office determines the shortage no longer exists. Care worker and senior care worker codes (SOC 6135/6136) have a separate expiry date of 22 July 2028 for certain transitional arrangements. Employers should not rely on ISL discounts for long-term workforce planning beyond these dates.