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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
What Is the Minimum Salary for a Skilled Worker Visa?
The minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa is £41,700 per year or 100% of the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. This applies to most standard Skilled Worker applications from July 2025 onwards.
Because the going rate is set per SOC code, many roles have a higher effective minimum than £41,700. a software developer (SOC 2134), for example, must be paid at least £49,400. Reduced minimums apply in specific cases: £37,500 for PhD-relevant roles, and £33,400 for new entrants and Immigration Salary List occupations. Part-time roles are pro-rated from the full-time equivalent, with an hourly floor of £17.13.
The salary must also be met in every individual pay period not just as an annual average so a monthly-paid worker at the £41,700 minimum must receive at least £3,475 gross each month to keep the sponsor compliant.
Salary threshold tiers and exceptions ( 2026)
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:
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 ✗
UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Thresholds at a Glance (2026)
Forecast every UK Skilled Worker visa renewal cost with the UK Visa Sponsorship Extension Cost Tracker to budget CoS, ISC, IHS, and extension fees through to ILR eligibility.
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
Proposals would tie settlement speed to sustained earnings of £50,270 or £125,140, assessed separately from the thresholds above. Our guide to the earned settlement salary tiers explains why an employee can clear one and fail the other.
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.
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.
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
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