Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold and Going Rates Explained (2026)

To get a UK Skilled Worker visa in 2026 you must usually be paid at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher. Some applicants, including new entrants, people with a relevant PhD and Immigration Salary List roles, can be paid less, but almost never below £33,400 a year. Healthcare and education jobs on national pay scales follow separate rules.

Key points

• The general threshold has been £41,700 since 22 July 2025 (it was £38,700).
• Every occupation code has its own going rate, and you need the higher of the two figures.
• Discounted salaries are a percentage of the going rate, with a floor of £33,400 (or £37,500 for a non-STEM PhD).
• New entrant status is limited to a total of 4 years in the UK, including time on a Graduate visa.

This post covers salary only. For eligibility, English, fees and the application process, see the UK Skilled Worker visa complete guide.

The two numbers you have to beat

According to the GOV.UK your job page, you must be paid whichever is highest of:

1. £41,700 a year (the general threshold), or
2. the going rate for your four-digit occupation code.

The going rates are published in a table on GOV.UK, one line per occupation code. They are based on a standard 37.5-hour week. If you work more or fewer hours, the going rate is adjusted pro rata, but the £41,700 general threshold is not.

GOV.UK gives its own example: if the going rate for your job is £45,000 and you are offered £42,000, you do not qualify, even though £42,000 is above £41,700.

Why the threshold went up

The HC 997 explanatory memorandum raised the general threshold and the going rates from 22 July 2025, alongside the move to degree-level (RQF 6) jobs. Unlike the skill-level change, the salary increase was not covered by general transitional protection. That means people extending after 22 July 2025 may also have had to meet higher figures, depending on when they were first sponsored.

When you can be paid less

The when you can be paid less page lists these cases. Percentages are of the standard going rate for your occupation.

Situation	% of going rate	Minimum salary	Time limit
Under 26, on or recently on a Student or Graduate visa, or working towards a recognised professional qualification or chartered status (“new entrant”)	70%	£33,400	Total UK stay under these terms cannot exceed 4 years, including Graduate visa time
PhD relevant to the job (STEM)	80%	£33,400	None stated
PhD relevant to the job (non-STEM)	90%	£37,500	None stated
Postdoctoral role in science or higher education (codes 2111 to 2115, 2119, 2162, 2311)	70%	See GOV.UK guidance	4 years total
Job on the Immigration Salary List	100% (no discount)	£33,400	None stated

Two points are often misunderstood:

• The ISL does not reduce the going rate. It only lowers the general threshold to £33,400 and gives you a cheaper visa fee. You still need the full going rate.
• The PhD discount needs the job to be on the PhD list, and your employer must confirm the qualification is relevant to the role.

Worked examples

These examples use made-up going rates to show the method. Always look up the real going rate for your code on GOV.UK.

Example 1: standard applicant

• Going rate for the code: £44,000
• Offered salary: £43,000
• Higher of £41,700 and £44,000 = £44,000
• Result: does not qualify. The employer would need to offer at least £44,000.

Example 2: going rate below the general threshold

• Going rate: £36,000
• Offered salary: £40,000
• Higher of £41,700 and £36,000 = £41,700
• Result: does not qualify as a standard applicant. Could qualify if a discount route applies (see Example 3).

Example 3: new entrant switching from a Graduate visa

• Same job, going rate £36,000
• 70% of £36,000 = £25,200, but the floor is £33,400
• Required: higher of £25,200 and £33,400 = £33,400
• Offered: £40,000. Result: qualifies, as long as total time as a new entrant (including Graduate visa time) stays within 4 years.

If you are planning a switch from the Graduate route, the timing matters. See Graduate visa cut to 18 months.

Example 4: part-time hours

• Going rate: £45,000 for 37.5 hours
• Contracted hours: 30 a week, so the pro-rated going rate is £36,000
• Required: higher of £41,700 and £36,000 = £41,700
• The general threshold is not reduced for part-time work, so a part-time salary must still reach £41,700.

What counts as salary

In general, the Home Office looks at guaranteed basic gross pay. Overtime, bonuses, commission, and most allowances do not count, even if they are regular. The sponsor guidance on GOV.UK sets out the detailed rules, including how guaranteed allowances are treated. Your employer must also pay at least the national minimum wage and comply with working time rules.

Sponsors have to report certain changes, including pay cuts, to the Home Office. If your pay drops below the level stated on your certificate of sponsorship, your permission can be at risk. Some advisers report that the Home Office now checks the threshold against each pay period rather than only on an annual basis. We have not been able to confirm this on an official page, so ask your sponsor to check the current sponsor guidance.

Healthcare, education and other special cases

• Healthcare and education: where the going rate is based on national pay scales (for example NHS Agenda for Change bands or teacher pay scales), different rules apply. The Health and Care Worker route has a usual minimum of £25,000 or the going rate, whichever is higher, according to the Health and Care Worker your job page.
• Prison officers: extending or switching only. The minimum is the higher of £31,300 or the prison officer lower going rate. GOV.UK states CoS deadlines of 31 December 2026 for switching and 31 December 2027 for extending.
• Extensions and updates: lower salary requirements may apply if you are extending or changing employer, particularly if your first CoS was issued before 4 April 2024. Check the GOV.UK pages for your exact dates.

Common salary mistakes

• Using the wrong occupation code. A code with a lower going rate does not help if it does not genuinely match the job duties. Choosing an inaccurate code is a common reason for refusal and can cause problems for the sponsor.
• Counting allowances. London weighting, shift premiums or accommodation can look like salary but are often excluded.
• Forgetting pro rata rules. Going rates are pro-rated for hours other than 37.5 a week, but the £41,700 general threshold is not.
• Assuming new entrant status lasts. Once your total time on new entrant terms reaches 4 years, you will need the full rate to extend.
• Relying on old figures. Thresholds changed in April 2024 and again in July 2025. Online calculators and old job adverts may be out of date.

Quick reference: salary figures in October 2026

Route or case	Minimum salary
Skilled Worker, general	£41,700 or going rate
Skilled Worker, discounted cases (most)	£33,400 and the relevant % of going rate
Skilled Worker, non-STEM PhD	£37,500 and 90% of going rate
Health and Care Worker, usual	£25,000 or going rate
Prison officers (extend or switch)	£31,300 or lower going rate

What to do next

• Get your occupation code from your employer and check the going rate on GOV.UK yourself.
• Work out whether you fit a discount case, and how long you have been on new entrant terms.
• Ask your employer to confirm that the salary on the CoS is guaranteed basic pay.
• Keep an eye on the UK country hub and updates page, as thresholds are reviewed regularly.
• If your case sits close to a threshold, speak to an OISC/IAA-regulated adviser or solicitor before applying. This article is general information, not legal advice.