The Skilled Worker visa salary threshold for most new applications is £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. This has applied to Certificates of Sponsorship assigned on or after 22 July 2025, when the threshold rose from £38,700. Some applicants can use a lower rate, and since April 2026 the salary must be met in every pay period.
- General threshold: £41,700 a year, or the job’s going rate if that is higher.
- Lower floors (from £33,400) apply to new entrants, relevant PhD roles and Immigration Salary List roles.
- Most new roles must be at degree level (RQF 6) unless they are on the Temporary Shortage List.
- If your first Skilled Worker visa was granted before 4 April 2024, a lower transitional threshold of £31,300 can apply.
What is the Skilled Worker visa salary threshold in 2026?
You must be paid at least the higher of two figures: the general threshold of £41,700 a year, and the going rate for your occupation code. Going rates are set for each Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules, so two jobs with the same salary can get different results.
For example, a job with a going rate of £45,000 needs a salary of at least £45,000, even though that is above £41,700. A job with a going rate of £36,000 still needs £41,700, because the general threshold is higher.
Skilled Worker salary options at a glance
The rules set out several salary options. These are the main ones for Certificates of Sponsorship assigned on or after 22 July 2025:
| Your situation | Minimum salary | Share of going rate |
|---|---|---|
| Standard case | £41,700 | 100% |
| PhD relevant to the job (non-STEM) | £37,500 | 90% |
| PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | £33,400 | 80% |
| Job on the Immigration Salary List | £33,400 | 100% |
| New entrant (see below) | £33,400 | 70% |
Many health and education roles are assessed against national pay scales rather than the standard going-rate tables. People extending a visa first granted before 4 April 2024 have their own figures, covered below.
How the going rate works for your job
Each eligible job has a four-digit SOC code with an annual going rate based on a 37.5-hour week. Only guaranteed basic gross pay counts. Overtime, bonuses and allowances that are not guaranteed are left out, and hours above 48 a week are ignored.
Choosing the right SOC code matters. If the code does not match the real duties of the job, the application can be refused and the employer’s sponsor licence can come under review.
New entrants and under-26s
New entrants need at least £33,400 and 70% of the going rate. You may count as a new entrant if you:
- are under 26 on the date you apply;
- are switching from a Student or Graduate visa, if you meet the conditions;
- are working towards a recognised UK professional qualification or registration; or
- are moving into a postdoctoral research role.
New-entrant terms are time-limited: your total time on the route as a new entrant is capped at four years.
If you first got a Skilled Worker visa before 4 April 2024
If your first Skilled Worker visa was granted before 4 April 2024 and you have stayed on the route, transitional rules let you use lower figures when you extend, change employer or apply for settlement. The general threshold for this group rose from £29,000 to £31,300 on 22 July 2025, and older going-rate figures apply. These transitional rules are time-limited, so check the current position before you apply.
The degree-level rule and the Temporary Shortage List
Since 22 July 2025, new sponsorship generally needs the job to be at RQF level 6, which is degree level. Jobs below that can only be sponsored if they are on the Temporary Shortage List, which is time-limited and comes with restrictions such as no dependants. People already on the route before that date can usually keep extending in their existing role.
The overseas care worker route also closed to new applications on 22 July 2025.
Salary must be met in every pay period
For Certificates of Sponsorship assigned on or after 8 April 2026, the required salary has to be paid in every pay period, not just on average across the year. A month where pay falls short can now affect both the worker’s future applications and the employer’s licence.
What else you need besides the salary
- A job offer and Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer with a sponsor licence.
- English at CEFR level B2 for first applications made on or after 8 January 2026.
- The visa fee: from 8 April 2026, £819 for up to three years from outside the UK, or £943 from inside.
- The Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 a year, paid upfront.
Does your job offer meet the threshold?
Send us the job title, SOC code and salary. An IAUK adviser will check which salary option applies to you and confirm whether the offer works before you apply.
What employers should check
- Choose the SOC code that matches the real duties, and check its going rate.
- Confirm the role is at RQF 6 or on the Temporary Shortage List.
- Make sure guaranteed basic pay meets the higher of the threshold and the going rate, in every pay period.
- Review salaries before each extension, because thresholds and going rates are updated regularly.
Not yet licensed? See our sponsor licence service. Already sponsoring workers? Use our sponsor licence compliance checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Skilled Worker visa salary threshold still £38,700?
No. It rose from £38,700 to £41,700 for Certificates of Sponsorship assigned on or after 22 July 2025.
What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa if I am under 26?
Applicants under 26 can usually apply as new entrants, with a minimum of £33,400 and 70% of the going rate for the job.
Do overtime and bonuses count towards the salary?
No. Only guaranteed basic gross pay counts. Overtime, bonuses and non-guaranteed allowances are excluded.
Does the new threshold apply when I extend my visa?
Yes, unless your first Skilled Worker visa was granted before 4 April 2024. In that case you may be able to use the transitional threshold of £31,300.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Figures checked against GOV.UK and the Immigration Rules. Thresholds change, so we confirm the current figure at your free assessment. This article is general information, not advice on your individual case.
Sources: GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa, Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker.