UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold: Major Updates Applicants Need to Know

The standard salary threshold for the UK Skilled Worker visa is £41,700 per year for most applicants. Your offered salary must also meet the going rate for your specific occupation, whichever figure is higher. If the going rate for your role exceeds £41,700, that higher amount becomes your effective minimum salary requirement.

The going rate is the occupation-specific salary floor set by the Home Office for each Standard Occupational Classification code. It is based on the 25th percentile of earnings for experienced workers in that occupation. You must be paid 100% of the going rate for your role, even if your salary already exceeds the general £41,700 threshold.

A minimum hourly rate of £17.13 applies to most standard Skilled Worker roles, calculated on a 48-hour working week. Your annual salary must satisfy this hourly condition alongside the general threshold and your occupation's going rate. All three salary conditions must be met at the same time for your application to pass the salary assessment.

Yes, in certain circumstances. Reduced thresholds apply to new entrants (£33,400), PhD holders with a relevant qualification (£37,500), STEM PhD holders (£33,400), healthcare workers covered by national pay scales (from £25,000), and roles on the Immigration Salary List (£33,400). If you fall into one of these categories, your effective minimum will be lower than the standard figure.

If you qualify as a new entrant, your salary threshold is £33,400 or 70% of the going rate for your occupation, whichever is higher. You may qualify as a new entrant if you are under 26, switching from a Student or Graduate visa, in your first role after completing a PhD, or otherwise at the start of your career as defined in the Immigration Rules.

If your PhD is relevant to your job, a reduced threshold of £37,500 or 90% of the going rate applies, whichever is higher. If your PhD is in a STEM subject that is relevant to your role, the threshold reduces further to £33,400 or 80% of the going rate, whichever is higher. Your employer must confirm the relevance of your PhD to the role on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

Healthcare and education roles covered by national pay scales are assessed against those scales rather than the standard going rate. Depending on the role and pay band, some healthcare workers can qualify from as low as £25,000. NHS positions and state school teaching roles typically fall into this category. You should check the specific pay scale that applies to your role and band before applying.

The Immigration Salary List is a Home Office list of occupations that qualify for a reduced salary threshold of £33,400 instead of the standard £41,700. If your occupation appears on the list, you may be assessed against this lower figure. You should verify whether your role currently appears on the list and confirm your eligibility with your employer before your Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned.

Transitional thresholds allow some existing Skilled Workers to extend their visa at a lower salary than the current standard minimum. They apply to applicants whose first Certificate of Sponsorship was issued before 4 April 2024. Depending on the applicable option, transitional thresholds of £31,300, £28,200, or £25,000 may apply. You should check your specific CoS date to confirm which transitional threshold applies to your situation.

The SOC code is a four-digit Standard Occupational Classification code assigned to your role by your sponsoring employer. The Home Office uses this code to determine the going rate that applies to your application. Verifying that the correct code is assigned to your role before your Certificate of Sponsorship is issued is an important step in ensuring your salary assessment is accurate.

If your salary meets the general threshold but falls below the going rate for your occupation code, your application may not meet the salary requirements. Both the general threshold and the going rate are mandatory conditions. If your offered salary falls short of the going rate, your employer will need to increase the offer to at least 100% of the going rate before submitting your application.

The hourly rate condition of £17.13 remains the primary check for part-time roles. Your annual salary will be lower if your contracted hours are fewer, but your hourly rate must still meet the minimum. Part-time roles can qualify under the Skilled Worker route, provided the hourly rate condition and the going rate for your occupation are both satisfied at the applicable threshold.

Yes, the threshold applies at extension unless transitional provisions cover your situation. If your original Certificate of Sponsorship was issued before 4 April 2024, you may continue to benefit from lower transitional thresholds at extension. If no transitional provision applies, your salary at the time of extension must meet the current standard threshold of £41,700 for most roles.

The Home Office reviews salary thresholds periodically and may revise them in future updates to the Immigration Rules. The current standard threshold of £41,700 reflects updated earnings data and is aligned with median UK full-time earnings. You should always check the latest Immigration Rules and Home Office guidance before submitting your application to ensure you are working with the most current figures.

The going rate is derived from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings published by the Office for National Statistics. The Home Office uses the 25th percentile of earnings for experienced workers in each occupation code. The going rates are published in Appendix Skilled Occupations in the Immigration Rules and are updated periodically. Your employer or immigration adviser can help you identify the correct going rate for your role.

Generally, only your guaranteed basic salary counts toward the threshold assessment. Variable pay components such as bonuses, allowances, and overtime are not typically included in the salary calculation. Your base salary as stated in your Certificate of Sponsorship must meet the going rate for your occupation code and the applicable general threshold in its own right.

The going rates for all eligible occupations are published in Appendix Skilled Occupations, which forms part of the UK Immigration Rules and is available on the GOV.UK website. You can search by occupation title or SOC code. The appendix sets out the going rate for each code and indicates whether standard salary data or national pay scales apply to your role.

The Skilled Worker visa salary threshold is set at a UK-wide level by the Home Office and applies uniformly across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. There is no regional variation in the general threshold or going rates. However, roles covered by devolved national pay scales, such as some NHS positions in Scotland, are assessed against those scales rather than the standard going rate.

The general threshold is the universal minimum salary of £41,700 that applies to most Skilled Worker visa applicants regardless of their occupation. The going rate is the occupation-specific minimum set for each SOC code based on ONS earnings data. You must meet both figures simultaneously, and whichever is higher becomes your effective minimum salary for your application.

Y-Axis offers free eligibility assessments for UK Skilled Worker visa applicants, including salary checks, occupation code verification, and guidance on reduced thresholds. Our OISC Level 3 regulated advisers can review your job offer, identify the correct going rate for your role, and confirm whether your salary meets all three conditions. Contact Y-Axis today to speak with an adviser and get personalised guidance on your application.