Minimum Salary for a Skilled Worker Visa UK: The 2026 Threshold Explained

The minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026 is £41,700 per year. But for many occupations, the real floor is set higher by the going rate for your specific SOC code. Getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons a Certificate of Sponsorship is refused before a visa application even begins.

This guide covers every threshold that applies in 2026, how to check the going rate for your occupation, when a lower salary can apply, and what counts as salary under Home Office rules.

Contents

1. What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?
2. The going rate: why your occupation sets the real minimum salary floor
3. How to check the minimum salary for your specific job in three steps
4. When a lower salary threshold applies in 2026
5. What counts as salary and what does not
6. Pay-period compliance: the rule most workers miss
7. UK Skilled Worker visa salary threshold changes: 2024 to 2026
8. Part-time roles and the minimum salary calculation
9. How does your employer verify the minimum salary requirement
10. Salary at ILR: the going rate applies at settlement too
11. Common scenarios: Does this salary meet the 2026 threshold?
12. Frequently asked questions about the Skilled Worker visa minimum salary

What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?

The standard minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa is £41,700 per year, or £17.13 per hour. This general salary threshold has been in effect since 22 July 2025.

The general threshold is a floor, not the only figure that matters. You must also meet the going rate for the occupation. The salary on your Certificate of Sponsorship must be at least the higher of £41,700 and the going rate for your SOC code.

For most occupations, the going rate sits below £41,700, so the general threshold is the binding figure. For higher-skilled roles, certain IT professionals, engineers, scientists, and finance specialists, the going rate exceeds £41,700, creating a higher floor.

The going rate: why your occupation sets the real minimum salary floor

The going rate is the per-occupation salary minimum the Home Office assigns to every eligible SOC 2020 code. It is derived from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) updated each April in the Immigration Rules statement of changes.

Two workers on the same visa route with the same job title can face different salary floors, depending on how the employer classifies the role. Here are two examples using 2026 going rates:

• A software developer (SOC 2134) has a going rate of £54,700 — well above the general threshold. A salary of £50,000 does not meet the requirement, even though it clears £41,700.
• A welder (SOC 5213) has a standard going rate of £34,900 — below the general threshold. For a standard application, £41,700 is the binding figure. For an Immigration Salary List application, £33,400 applies (see below).

Here is the key point: if the going rate for your role exceeds the general threshold, no reduced-rate option changes that. The ISL, new entrant, and PhD discounts apply only to the general threshold, but each option also applies a percentage reduction to the going rate.

How to check the minimum salary for your specific job in three steps

There is a straightforward process to confirm whether a salary offer meets the 2026 Skilled Worker visa minimum salary requirement.

Step 1: Find your SOC code.
Every Skilled Worker visa application is tied to a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, a 4-digit number used to identify the eligible occupation. The SOC Code Finder matches any job title against the full ONS SOC 2020 index and returns the correct code, visa route, and going rate.

Step 2: Check the going rate for that code.
Once you have the code, the Going Rates tool shows the current 2026 going rate for every eligible occupation. It also shows whether the role is on the Immigration Salary List and what the ISL threshold is.

Step 3: Apply the higher figure.
Take the higher of:

• £41,700 (or the applicable reduced threshold if you qualify), and
• The going rate (or the applicable going rate percentage if a reduced option applies).

That is the minimum gross basic salary your employer must record on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

When a lower salary threshold applies in 2026

The standard £41,700 threshold is reduced in four circumstances. Each reduces the general minimum — the going rate requirement is adjusted separately under each option.

Immigration Salary List: reduced general threshold of £33,400

The Immigration Salary List (ISL) identifies occupations where the general threshold drops to £33,400. Each ISL occupation also has a lower going rate that applies in place of the standard rate. The salary must be at least the higher of £33,400 and the ISL going rate for the SOC code.

The current ISL covers around 27 occupation codes, including care workers and managers, scientists, skilled trades, and arts and cultural roles. Most ISL entries expire on 31 December 2026. Check the Going Rates tool to see whether your role is on the current ISL and what the applicable rate is.

New entrant route: £33,400 general threshold, 70% going rate

A worker who qualifies as a new entrant to the labour market can be sponsored at a reduced general threshold of £33,400, with the going rate requirement reduced to 70%. To qualify at the time of application, the worker must meet one of the following:

• Age under 26
• Currently in the UK on a Student visa at a bachelor's degree level or above
• Currently in the UK on a Graduate visa
• Switching from a Government Authorised Exchange visa

The salary must be at least the higher of £33,400 and 70% of the standard going rate for the SOC code.

Non-STEM PhD: £37,500 general threshold, 90% going rate

Applicants sponsored for a role that requires a relevant non-STEM PhD — or who hold one relevant to the occupation — qualify for a reduced general threshold of £37,500. The going-rate requirement is reduced to 90%.

STEM PhD: £33,400 general threshold, 80% going rate

For STEM PhD holders whose PhD is relevant to the role, the general threshold drops to £33,400, and the going-rate requirement reduces to 80%. The PhD must be directly relevant to the occupation being sponsored.

All 2026 threshold options at a glance

In every case, the binding minimum = the higher of the general minimum or the applicable going rate percentage.

What counts as salary and what does not?

Only guaranteed gross basic pay counts toward the Skilled Worker minimum salary threshold. Variable and discretionary pay are excluded.

Counts:

• Gross basic salary
• Guaranteed location weighting or London supplement (stated in the contract)
• Guaranteed shift premiums set out in the employment contract

Does not count:

• Performance bonuses (discretionary or target-based)
• Overtime pay
• Expenses or travel allowances
• Pension contributions
• Non-guaranteed benefits (health cover, car allowance not written into the contract)
• Tips or commission

A job offer showing a total compensation package of £46,000 can still fall short of the threshold if £6,000 of that is an annual bonus. The salary figure on the Certificate of Sponsorship must reflect only the guaranteed basic pay.

Pay-period compliance: the rule most workers miss

From 8 April 2026, the Home Office assesses salary compliance across defined pay periods, not just against an annualised figure. This change primarily affects how employers structure payroll, but workers should be aware of it.

The new rules set three assessment windows depending on pay frequency:

• Monthly pay (or less frequent): Salary paid over any 3-month period must be at least a quarter of the annual minimum.
• More frequent than monthly: Salary paid over any 12-week period must equal at least 12/52 of the annual minimum.
• Variable weekly hours: The relevant period is 17 weeks; salary must equal at least 17/52 of the annual minimum.

The practical effect: a month where a worker earns less than the required amount — due to unpaid leave or a deduction — does not automatically put the employer in breach, provided the rolling 3-month or 12-week total still meets the threshold. But consistently low pay across multiple periods will trigger a compliance issue.

Applications using a Certificate of Sponsorship assigned before 8 April 2026 are decided under the rules in force on 7 April 2026.

UK Skilled Worker visa salary threshold changes: 2024 to 2026

The minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa has changed significantly over the last two years. The April 2024 increase was the largest single rise since the route was introduced.

The July 2025 changes also restructured how the ISL interacts with going rates. Under the previous rules, ISL roles could meet 80% of the standard going rate.

Under the current rules, the ISL provides a separate (lower) going rate for each eligible code, and that lower rate must be met in full. The ISL no longer applies a percentage discount to the standard going rate.

Going rates are updated each April alongside the Immigration Rules statement of changes, reflecting the latest ASHE data.

Part-time roles and the minimum salary calculation

All salary thresholds are calculated on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis using a 37.5-hour reference week. For part-time roles, both the general threshold and the going rate are pro-rated based on the actual contracted weekly hours stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Example: a role at 25 hours per week (66.7% FTE) where the going rate is £42,000:

• Pro-rated going rate: £42,000 × 66.7% = £28,014
• Pro-rated general threshold: £41,700 × 66.7% = £27,814
• Binding minimum: £28,014 (pro-rated going rate is the higher figure)

The Home Office caps going-rate calculations at 48 paid hours per week. Hours above 48 do not count, even if the contract states them.

How does your employer verify the minimum salary requirement?

Before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, a licensed sponsor must confirm three things:

1. The SOC code is eligible for the Skilled Worker route.
2. The salary meets the going rate for that SOC code at the applicable percentage.
3. The salary meets the general threshold (or the applicable reduced threshold).

Sponsors assign the Certificate of Sponsorship through the Sponsor Management System. The system does not automatically flag going-rate breaches; it is the sponsor's responsibility to verify the figures before assigning. A CoS assigned below the applicable threshold constitutes a compliance failure and may result in a licence downgrade or revocation.

If a job offer comes in below the applicable threshold, the employer cannot lawfully assign a CoS at that salary. The role needs to be repriced, or the worker needs to qualify under a reduced-rate option.

Salary at ILR: the going rate applies at settlement too

The minimum salary requirement does not only apply at the point of initial application. When a Skilled Worker extends their visa or applies for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), their salary must meet the applicable threshold at the time of that application, using the going rates in force at that point.

Going rates are updated each April. A salary that cleared the threshold at initial sponsorship may fall below the updated going rate by the time of extension, particularly in occupations where ASHE 25th-percentile earnings have risen. Workers and employers should check the current going rates before any renewal or settlement application.

Common scenarios: Does this salary meet the 2026 threshold?

Here are four worked examples using 2026 going rates. To run the same check for any occupation, use the SOC Code Finder to identify the code, then use the Going Rates tool to pull the current figures.

Software developer (SOC 2134) — £52,000 offer, standard application

Going rate: £54,700. General threshold: £41,700. The binding minimum is £54,700 (the going rate exceeds the general threshold). A £52,000 offer does not meet the requirement. The employer cannot assign a CoS at this salary.

Finance analyst (SOC 2422) — £36,000 offer, new entrant (under 26)

Standard going rate: £45,800. New entrant going rate (70%): £32,060. New entrant general threshold: £33,400. The binding minimum is £33,400 (the general threshold exceeds 70% of the going rate). A £36,000 offer meets both figures.

Welder (SOC 5213) — £34,000 offer, Immigration Salary List application

Standard going rate: £34,900. ISL going rate: £29,500. ISL general threshold: £33,400. The binding minimum is £33,400 (the ISL threshold exceeds the ISL going rate). A £34,000 offer meets the ISL threshold. Without the ISL, the binding minimum would be £41,700 (the general threshold exceeds the standard going rate of £34,900) — the same £34,000 offer would fail.

Civil engineer (SOC 2121) — £51,000 offer, standard application

Going rate: £50,400. General threshold: £41,700. The binding minimum is £50,400 (the going rate exceeds the general threshold). A £51,000 offer clears the going rate.

Frequently asked questions about the Skilled Worker visa minimum salary

What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?

£41,700 per year (£17.13 per hour), or the going rate for the occupation — whichever is higher. The going rate is set per SOC code and published by the Home Office each April.

What was the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in 2025?

From 4 April 2024 to 21 July 2025, the standard threshold was £38,700. It rose to £41,700 on 22 July 2025. Applications submitted on or after that date use the current figure.

Does the minimum salary include bonuses?

No. Only guaranteed gross basic pay counts. Performance bonuses, overtime, pension contributions, and non-guaranteed allowances are excluded from the calculation.

What is the going rate for a Skilled Worker visa?

The going rate is the occupation-specific salary floor assigned to each eligible SOC 2020 code. It is based on the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, at the 25th percentile, and is updated each April. Use the Going Rates tool to check the current rate for any occupation.

Can I be paid less than £41,700 on a Skilled Worker visa?

In some cases, yes. Roles on the Immigration Salary List are subject to a reduced general threshold of £33,400. New entrants (under 26 or recent graduates) also qualify at £33,400. PhD holders may qualify for £37,500 (non-STEM) or £33,400 (STEM). The going rate still applies separately in each case.

What is the Immigration Salary List?

The Immigration Salary List identifies SOC codes for which the general salary threshold is reduced to £33,400. Each ISL code has its own lower going rate. Check the Going Rates tool to see whether a specific role is on the current ISL and what its applicable rate is.

Does the minimum salary apply to part-time roles?

Yes, on a pro-rated basis. Both the general threshold and the going rate are adjusted for the actual contracted weekly hours, using a 37.5-hour reference week. Hours above 48 per week do not count.

What happens if a salary falls below the going rate?

An employer cannot lawfully assign a Certificate of Sponsorship at a salary below the applicable threshold. If a sponsored worker's pay drops below the threshold during employment (for example, due to unpaid leave), the employer is in breach of sponsor duties for that pay period.

How do I find the going rate for my job?

Use the SOC Code Finder to identify your occupation's 4-digit SOC code, then check the Going Rates tool for the current going rate and ISL status.

Does the salary threshold change for ILR?

Yes. The salary must meet the applicable threshold at the time of any extension or ILR application, using the going rates in force at that point. Going rates update each April, so re-check before any renewal.

What is the minimum salary for a Health and Care Worker visa?

The Health and Care Worker visa has a separate salary structure covering 38 eligible SOC codes, with floors set primarily by national pay scales for NHS and equivalent employers. The general minimum is £25,000. See Health and Care visa jobs for verified sponsored roles on this route.

SponsoredJobs lists UK jobs from employers on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors. Every listing is verified against an active sponsor licence, an eligible SOC code, and the 2026 salary threshold.

Browse verified Skilled Worker visa jobs