Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold 2026: What You Need to Earn

Overview

The Skilled Worker visa is the main route for employers to hire workers from outside the UK for specific job roles. Every application must meet a minimum salary requirement, and since July 2025, the rules around what qualifies have changed significantly.

The salary is only one part of the picture. The role must also be at the right skill level, the employer must hold a sponsor licence, the vacancy must be genuine, and the applicant must meet English language requirements. This guide covers the salary rules in detail and summarises the other requirements you need to know about.

The General Salary Threshold

£41,700 Per Year

Since 22 July 2025, the general salary threshold for most new Skilled Worker visa applications is £41,700 per year (gross). This replaced the previous threshold of £38,700 that had applied from April 2024.

However, meeting the general threshold alone does not guarantee eligibility. The Home Office applies a "higher of" rule: the applicant must earn at least the general threshold or the going rate for their specific occupation, whichever is higher.

For many occupations, the going rate exceeds £41,700, meaning the effective threshold is higher than the headline figure. For some occupations on the Immigration Salary List, reduced rates apply (covered below).

How Hourly Rate Assessment Works

The Home Office assesses salary on an hourly basis, not just the annual figure. The calculation works like this:

Annual salary divided by weekly working hours divided by 52.14 weeks = Hourly rate

This hourly rate is compared against the going rate for the SOC code, which is based on a standard 37.5-hour week.

This matters because part-time workers can meet the threshold at a lower annual salary. For example, if a role's going rate is £41,700 based on 37.5 hours per week, someone working 30 hours per week would need to earn approximately £33,360 annually (£41,700 x 30/37.5) to meet the hourly rate. This distinction is commonly overlooked and can make the difference between qualifying and falling short.

SOC Codes and Going Rates

Every Skilled Worker visa application is linked to a specific SOC 2020 (Standard Occupational Classification) code. The SOC code determines the going rate, whether the occupation appears on the Immigration Salary List, and what evidence requirements apply.

There are over 400 eligible SOC codes. The code is assigned by the employer when creating the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). It must accurately reflect the duties of the role, not just the job title. The Home Office can refuse an application if the SOC code does not match the actual job responsibilities.

Going rates vary widely. Some examples from Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations to illustrate the range:

These figures are illustrative. Actual going rates are published in the tables within Appendix Skilled Occupations and are updated periodically using ASHE data. The applicable rate is the one in force at the date the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned.

If you are unsure which SOC code applies to a role, the Office for National Statistics publishes the full SOC 2020 classification with job title examples and descriptions for each code.

Salary Options: How the Threshold Is Applied

The Immigration Rules set out multiple calculation options (commonly referred to as Options A through K). The Home Office assesses an applicant against all applicable options and uses the most favourable one. This means that two workers in the same occupation could face different thresholds based on their age, qualifications, or visa history.

Here is a summary of the main options:

In each case, the applicant must meet both the general threshold and the going rate percentage for their option. The actual threshold is always whichever figure is higher.

A Worked Example

Consider a software developer (SOC 2134) with a going rate of £54,700:

Under Option A (standard), the applicant needs to earn at least £54,700 (the going rate, which is higher than the £41,700 general threshold).

Under Option E (new entrant), the applicant needs to earn at least £33,400 (the general new entrant threshold) or 70% of the going rate (£38,300), whichever is higher. So the effective threshold is £38,300.

The difference between the standard and new entrant threshold for this role is over £16,000 in annual salary. Whether an applicant qualifies as a new entrant can therefore have a significant impact on the outcome.

Transitional Provisions

Workers who held a Skilled Worker visa (or the former Tier 2 General visa) before certain threshold changes may benefit from transitional salary provisions when extending their visa. These provisions ensure that workers legitimately sponsored under earlier rules are not priced out by subsequent threshold increases.

The transitional rules depend on when the original visa was granted. Workers with permission granted before 4 April 2024 are assessed against a general threshold of £31,300 for extensions, rather than £41,700.

Transitional provisions do not apply to new applications or to workers who change occupation. In those cases, the current full thresholds apply.

New Entrant Rates

Workers who qualify as "new entrants" benefit from a reduced salary threshold. The new entrant general threshold is £33,400, with a going rate requirement of 70% of the standard rate.

Who Qualifies?

A worker may qualify as a new entrant if they meet any of the following:

Under 26 years old at the date of application.

Switching from a Student or Graduate visa (or other eligible student-related visa) to a Skilled Worker visa within the UK.

In a recognised professional training programme (such as a training contract for solicitors or a foundation programme for doctors).

Postdoctoral position directly following completion of a relevant PhD.

The new entrant concession applies for a maximum of 4 years. After that period, the worker must meet the full going rate at their next visa extension.

Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List

Occupations on the ISL have a reduced general threshold of £33,400, though they must still meet 100% of the going rate for the specific SOC code. The list is reviewed periodically by the Migration Advisory Committee.

The Temporary Shortage List (TSL) was introduced alongside the July 2025 changes. It allows certain roles below RQF Level 6 (degree level) to continue being sponsored on a time-limited basis. Entries on both lists are currently scheduled to expire at the end of December 2026, and the government has reserved the right to bring that date forward.

Health and Care Worker Visa

Workers in eligible health and care roles have access to a separate visa route with its own salary provisions. The Health and Care Worker visa covers SOC codes in healthcare occupations such as nursing, medical practice, and allied health professions.

The care worker route for new overseas applications was closed on 22 July 2025. Workers already in the UK can still switch into the Skilled Worker route for care worker roles until 22 July 2028, after which the route closes fully.

Skill Level Requirement: RQF Level 6

Since 22 July 2025, most roles eligible for the Skilled Worker visa must be at RQF Level 6 (Regulated Qualifications Framework), which is broadly equivalent to a bachelor's degree.

This does not mean the worker personally needs to hold a UK degree. The RQF level refers to the skill level of the role, not the applicant's qualifications. The Home Office assesses whether the duties, responsibilities, and seniority of the role match the occupation code and its assigned skill level. Qualifications, experience, and professional standing can all be relevant.

Some exceptions exist: roles on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List at RQF Level 3-5 can still be sponsored until the end of 2026, but workers in these roles cannot bring dependants.

English Language Requirement

The English language requirement for the Skilled Worker visa changed significantly in January 2026.

New applicants (from 8 January 2026): Must demonstrate English at CEFR Level B2 across all four skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. This is a notable increase from the previous B1 requirement.

Existing visa holders extending: Workers who previously met B1 are not automatically required to meet B2 at extension stage solely because of the change.

Settlement (ILR): Currently assessed at B1. However, the government has confirmed this will increase to B2 from 26 March 2027.

The English requirement can be met by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT), holding a degree taught or researched in English (verified by UK ENIC), or being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Certificate of Sponsorship and Genuine Vacancy

The employer must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before the applicant can apply for a visa. The CoS is a digital reference number (not a paper document) that contains the job title, SOC code, salary, and working hours.

The information on the CoS must accurately reflect the genuine vacancy and the terms of employment. The Home Office will refuse an application if there are reasonable grounds to believe:

• The job does not genuinely exist
• The role was created primarily to facilitate a visa application
• The duties do not match the SOC code claimed
• The applicant will be undertaking a routine role or providing a routine service to a third party rather than the sponsor

The CoS is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. There is no requirement for the employer to carry out a Resident Labour Market Test, but the vacancy must still be real and aligned with the business's needs.

Application Fees and Costs

The total cost of a Skilled Worker visa application depends on whether the application is made from outside or inside the UK, and the duration of the visa.

Visa Application Fees (Paid by Applicant)

Reduced fees apply for roles on the Immigration Salary List (currently £590 for up to 3 years, rising to £628 from 8 April).

Immigration Health Surcharge (Paid by Applicant)

The IHS is £1,035 per year for most adult applicants, payable upfront for the full visa duration. For a 3-year visa, this amounts to £3,105. For a 5-year visa, £5,175.

Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants are exempt from the IHS.

Employer Costs

The Immigration Skills Charge increased by 32% in December 2025. For a 3-year visa, a large sponsor now pays £3,960 in skills charges alone, plus the CoS fee.

Total Cost Example

For a standard 3-year Skilled Worker visa application from outside the UK (not on ISL), the minimum costs are approximately:

Applicant pays: £769 (application fee) + £3,105 (IHS) = £3,874

Employer pays: £525 (CoS) + £3,960 (ISC for large sponsor, 3 years) = £4,485

These figures increase from 8 April 2026 and do not include legal fees, English language test costs, or other ancillary expenses.

Visa Duration and Route to Settlement

The Skilled Worker visa can be granted for up to 5 years at a time and can be extended. There is no maximum total period on the route (unlike the former Tier 2 which had a 6-year cap).

After 5 continuous years on the Skilled Worker route, the visa holder can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement). Requirements at the ILR stage include meeting the salary threshold at the point of application, English language at B1 level (rising to B2 from March 2027), the Life in the UK test, and not having spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.

The government has proposed extending the standard ILR qualifying period from 5 to 10 years for most work routes under its "earned settlement" reforms. As of March 2026, these proposals have not yet been added to the Immigration Rules. The consultation closed in February 2026, and the Home Secretary has indicated changes may come later in the year or in 2027.

What Employers Need to Know

Sponsor Licence

Only employers with a valid sponsor licence can hire workers under the Skilled Worker route. The licence must be maintained through ongoing compliance with Home Office requirements.

Ongoing Duties

Sponsors have ongoing duties to report changes in a worker's employment within specific timeframes, including salary changes, role changes, and if the worker stops attending work. Failure to meet these duties can result in the licence being suspended or revoked. The Home Office increased unannounced workplace audits significantly in 2025 and 2026.

Key Compliance Points

The salary must meet the threshold at the point of application and be maintained for the duration of the visa. If the employer reduces the salary below the threshold after the visa is granted, this is a breach of sponsorship conditions and can lead to the visa being curtailed and the licence being downgraded or revoked.

The SOC code on the CoS must accurately reflect the actual duties of the role. Incorrect coding is one of the most common reasons for Home Office enforcement action against sponsors.

Check Your Salary Against the Threshold

With over 400 SOC codes, multiple salary options, and rules that differ based on route type, new entrant status, visa history, and working hours, understanding whether a specific salary meets the requirement involves several moving parts.

AssessNow's Skilled Worker Salary Requirement assessment checks your exact SOC code against all applicable salary options and produces a personalised breakdown. The assessment takes under 3 minutes and covers standard, new entrant, ISL, transitional, and PhD thresholds.

What you receive:

• A clear verdict on whether the salary meets the requirement for your SOC code
• All qualifying salary options identified, including new entrant and PhD rates where applicable
• Your salary surplus or shortfall against each threshold
• Hours optimisation analysis showing how working pattern changes could affect the outcome
• A personalised evidence checklist for your application

Based on Appendix Skilled Occupations (current guidance). Updated for 2026 rules.

For employers: If you are considering sponsoring a Skilled Worker and do not yet hold a sponsor licence, or want to check whether your organisation is likely to qualify, AssessNow's Sponsor Licence Eligibility assessment covers the key requirements the Home Office looks for, including financial viability, document readiness, and scrutiny risk factors.

This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules are complex and individual circumstances vary. For formal immigration advice, consult a qualified immigration solicitor or adviser regulated by the SRA or IAA.