A Skilled Worker visa requires the job to pay a salary that meets the Home Office rules, and a job offer below that level cannot support the visa. You must usually be paid at least the general salary threshold of 41,700 pounds a year (as of June 2026), or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. Some applicants can qualify on a lower salary, for example new entrants to the labour market and certain PhD holders. A salary that falls below the required figure can lead to the application being refused. This post provides an overview of the salary requirements for a UK Skilled Worker Visa.
What is the Skilled Worker salary requirement?
The Skilled Worker salary requirement is a two-part test, and the job must meet both parts. The salary must reach the general salary threshold set in the Immigration Rules, and it must also reach the going rate for the specific occupation. The applicant must be paid whichever of those two figures is higher.
The salary is set by the job and the employer, not by the applicant. The employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship that records the role, the occupation code, and the salary on offer. The figure on that record is the salary the Home Office assesses. The full route and its other requirements are set out on the Skilled Worker visa guide.
A job that meets one part but not the other does not qualify. A salary at the general threshold still fails where the going rate for the occupation is higher and the pay does not reach it. The two parts are explained in turn below.
How does the general salary threshold work?
The general salary threshold is the baseline annual figure most Skilled Worker applicants must be paid, set at 41,700 pounds a year (as of June 2026). It applies to applicants whose Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned under the current rules, and it rose with the changes covered in the July 2025 Skilled Worker rule update.
The threshold is a floor, not the figure every applicant must be paid. Where the going rate for the occupation is higher than 41,700 pounds, the going rate becomes the figure to meet. Where the going rate is lower, the 41,700 pound threshold still applies as the minimum. The applicant always pays the higher of the two.
Certain applicants are measured against a lower threshold instead, addressed in the section on being paid less below. The 41,700 pound figure is the standard position for an experienced worker who does not fall into one of those categories.
What is the going rate for an occupation?
The going rate is the salary the Immigration Rules set for a particular occupation, based on typical UK pay for that type of work. Each role is matched to a Standard Occupational Classification code, known as a SOC 2020 code, and every code has its own going rate. The going rate reflects the expected salary for that occupation across the UK labour market.
The correct SOC code is the one that genuinely matches the duties of the job. The going rate attached to that code then sets the occupation part of the salary test. Where the going rate is higher than the general threshold, it is the figure the applicant must be paid.
A worked example shows how this operates. A marketing manager role is matched to its SOC code, and the going rate for that code is, for example, 50,100 pounds a year (as of June 2026). The general threshold of 41,700 pounds is lower, so the going rate governs. The applicant must be paid at least 50,100 pounds, because the rules require the higher of the two figures.
When can a Skilled Worker be paid less than the usual salary?
Some applicants can qualify on a reduced salary, where they fall into a category that the Immigration Rules treat as eligible for a lower rate. Each category sets a lower cash floor and a percentage of the going rate, and the applicant must still be paid whichever of those two is higher.
The main reduced-salary categories are as follows (figures as of June 2026):
- New entrant to the labour market: at least 33,400 pounds a year and 70 per cent of the going rate.
- PhD relevant to the job: at least 37,500 pounds a year and 90 per cent of the going rate.
- PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job: at least 33,400 pounds a year and 80 per cent of the going rate.
- Job on the Immigration Salary List: at least 33,400 pounds a year and the full going rate for the occupation.
These reductions apply only while the applicant qualifies under the relevant category. A new entrant who later no longer meets the criteria must move to the standard salary at the next application. The reduced rates lower the salary needed, but the higher-of-two principle still applies within each category.
Who qualifies as a new entrant?
A new entrant is an applicant who is early in their career or moving into the workforce, and who meets one of the conditions in the Immigration Rules. The new entrant rate recognises that early-career salaries are typically lower than experienced-worker pay.
An applicant is usually a new entrant where they are under the age of 26 on the date of application. The category also covers applicants switching from a Student or Graduate visa, those working towards a recognised professional qualification, and certain postdoctoral roles. The new entrant rate can be relied on for a limited period only, after which the standard salary applies.
The new entrant route is often the difference between a graduate role qualifying or not. A recent graduate moving into a first sponsored job may meet the requirement at 70 per cent of the going rate, where the full rate would be out of reach. The position should be confirmed against the applicant’s specific circumstances before the job is accepted.
What pay counts towards the salary requirement?
Only guaranteed basic gross pay normally counts towards the salary requirement. The Home Office assesses the salary that the employer contractually guarantees, before tax and other deductions. Pay that is not guaranteed does not count, even where the applicant expects to receive it.
Forms of pay that do not normally count include discretionary bonuses, overtime, commission, one-off payments, and the value of non-cash benefits. Guaranteed allowances can count in limited circumstances where the rules permit, but most additional pay is excluded. The figure that matters is the guaranteed annual salary for the contracted hours.
This distinction can change whether a job qualifies. A role with a modest basic salary topped up by commission may look sufficient on total earnings, yet fall short on guaranteed basic pay. The salary test is applied to the guaranteed figure alone.
Do healthcare and education roles have different salary rules?
Healthcare and education roles are often assessed against national pay scales rather than the general threshold and standard going rates. Where a role is covered by a national pay scale, the going rate is set by that scale. Examples include an NHS Agenda for Change band and a teacher pay scale.
This affects many roles on the Health and Care Worker visa and certain education roles within the Skilled Worker route. The salary required is the relevant point on the applicable pay scale. The general 41,700 pound threshold is applied differently for these occupations, and the pay scale governs.
An applicant in one of these sectors should confirm which pay scale applies to the specific role. The figure to meet is the one set by that scale, not the standard going rate for a comparable private-sector role.
How salary requirements affect extension and settlement
The salary requirement is assessed again at extension and at settlement, not only at the first application. A Skilled Worker applying to extend must continue to meet the salary rules in force, against the current threshold and going rate for the occupation. The same higher-of-two principle applies.
A pay rise across the labour market can raise the going rate for an occupation over time. A salary that met the requirement at the first application may need to increase by the time of an extension. The position is set out on the Skilled Worker visa extension guide, and the settlement requirements are covered in the guide to Skilled Worker settlement (ILR).
The salary position is therefore a continuing requirement across the route, not a one-off check. A worker planning towards settlement should keep the salary aligned with the requirement at each stage.
Skilled Worker salary requirements in practice
The two scenarios below show how the salary test commonly works. They are illustrative only, and each application turns on the specific occupation code, salary and circumstances.
An experienced project manager receives a job offer at 44,000 pounds a year. The general threshold of 41,700 pounds (as of June 2026) is met. The going rate for the occupation code is 43,000 pounds, which is also met, so the higher figure of 43,000 pounds is satisfied and the salary qualifies.
A recent graduate under 26 is offered a first sponsored role at 34,000 pounds a year, and qualifies as a new entrant. The going rate for the occupation is 45,000 pounds, so 70 per cent of the going rate is 31,500 pounds. The offer of 34,000 pounds exceeds both that figure and the new entrant floor of 33,400 pounds, so the salary qualifies under the reduced rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much salary do you need for a Skilled Worker visa?
You usually need to be paid at least 41,700 pounds a year (as of June 2026), or the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher. Some applicants qualify on a lower salary, including new entrants and certain PhD holders. The figure on the Certificate of Sponsorship is the salary the Home Office assesses against these rules.
What happens if the going rate for my job is higher than 41,700 pounds?
The going rate then becomes the figure you must be paid. The rules require the higher of the general threshold and the occupation’s going rate. Where the going rate for your SOC 2020 code is above 41,700 pounds, a salary at the threshold alone is not enough, and the pay must reach the going rate.
Can a new entrant qualify on a lower salary?
Yes. A new entrant must be paid at least 33,400 pounds a year and 70 per cent of the going rate, whichever is higher (as of June 2026). New entrants include applicants under 26, those switching from a Student or Graduate visa, and certain professional-training and postdoctoral roles. The reduced rate applies for a limited period only.
Do bonuses and overtime count towards the salary requirement?
No, in most cases. Only guaranteed basic gross pay normally counts towards the salary requirement. Discretionary bonuses, overtime, commission and the value of non-cash benefits are usually excluded. A role that relies on those extras to reach the threshold may not qualify on its guaranteed basic salary.
Does the salary requirement apply at extension and settlement?
Yes. The salary is assessed again at each stage, against the threshold and going rate in force at the time. A going rate can rise over time, so a salary that qualified at the first application may need to increase by extension or settlement. The higher-of-two principle applies throughout.
How Whytecroft Ford can help
The Whytecroft Ford immigration team advises Skilled Worker applicants on whether a role meets the salary and eligibility requirements before an application is made. The firm checks the salary against the threshold and the going rate, confirms whether a reduced rate applies, and reviews the wider eligibility for the route. This is particularly valuable for the applicant comparing a job offer against the rules, or moving from a Graduate visa into sponsored work and relying on the new entrant rate.
To discuss a Skilled Worker application with our immigration team, call 0208 757 5751 or use the contact form.
Sources
- Skilled Worker visa: your job – GOV.UK
- Skilled Worker visa: when you can be paid less – GOV.UK
- Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker – GOV.UK
The material in this article is provided for guidance and general information only and is not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice upon which you should rely. In particular, the information should not be used as a substitute for a full and proper consultation with a suitably qualified professional. UK Immigration Rules are subject to change. Please do contact the Whytecroft Ford team if you require further advice.
