UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Thresholds 2026 — Every Occupation Code Explained
The UK Skilled Worker Visa minimum salary is £38,700 — but your occupation's "going rate" may require more. Some shortage occupations qualify at a 20% discount. Here is how to check your exact salary requirement by occupation code before you accept a job offer.
Since April 2024, the UK Skilled Worker Visa general salary threshold is £38,700 gross per year. Before April 2024 it was £26,200 — the increase was significant and caught many applicants off guard.
But the general threshold is only part of the requirement. Every occupation has a separate "going rate" — the minimum for that specific job. Your salary must meet whichever is higher: the general threshold or your occupation's going rate.
If you have a job offer from a UK employer and are checking whether it qualifies, this guide gives you everything you need.
The Two Thresholds You Must Both Meet
1. The general threshold: £38,700 per year (£3,225/month)
This applies to every Skilled Worker Visa applicant regardless of occupation.
2. Your occupation's going rate
Every eligible occupation has a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and a corresponding going rate set by the Home Office. If your occupation's going rate is higher than £38,700, your salary must meet the going rate. If the going rate is lower, the general threshold applies.
Example:
- Software Developer (SOC 2136): going rate approximately £49,400/year. Your salary must be at least £49,400 — not just the £38,700 general threshold.
- Care Worker (SOC 6145): going rate approximately £23,200/year. But the general threshold (£38,700) is higher — so your salary must be £38,700.
Going Rates for Commonly Sponsored Occupations
These are indicative going rates based on Home Office published salary data for 2026. Verify the exact current going rate for your specific SOC code at gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations before accepting an offer.
Technology and IT
Engineering
Healthcare
*Healthcare workers from NHS pay scales have specific going rates tied to NHS bands — the going rate may be lower than the general threshold for some NHS roles. However, the general threshold of £38,700 must still be met unless a shortage occupation discount applies.
Finance and Accounting
Architecture and Construction
Education
Shortage Occupations — The 20% Discount
Certain occupations on the Immigration Salary List (formerly called the Shortage Occupation List) qualify at 20% below the going rate, with a hard floor of £30,960/year.
As of 2026, the Immigration Salary List includes occupations in healthcare (many nursing and care roles), some engineering specialties, and specific shortage areas. The list is reviewed by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and updated by the Home Office.
How the discount works:
If your occupation is on the Immigration Salary List and your going rate is £38,700, the discounted requirement is £38,700 × 80% = £30,960. Your salary must still be at least £30,960.
If your occupation is on the list and the going rate is £49,400, the discounted requirement is £49,400 × 80% = £39,520.
Check the current Immigration Salary List at: gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations — the current list is updated regularly and specific occupations are added and removed.
New Entrant Rate — Younger Applicants and Graduates
If you are a "new entrant to the labour market" — typically meaning under 26 years old, a recent graduate, or in the first 3 years of a post-doctoral role — your salary requirement is set at 70% of the going rate, with a floor of £30,960/year.
New entrant status applies if you:
- Are under 26 at the time of application
- Are applying within 5 years of receiving a UK bachelor's or master's degree (or are currently in a PhD program)
- Are switching from a Student visa to Skilled Worker within a reasonable period after graduation
How Your Employer Verifies Your Salary
Your UK employer must hold a Sponsor Licence issued by the Home Office to sponsor your Skilled Worker Visa. Only licensed sponsors can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) — the document you include in your visa application.
The CoS includes your confirmed job title, SOC code, and salary. The Home Office checks whether this salary meets the going rate for the stated SOC code. If there is a mismatch — for example, if your employer has coded your job under a lower-paid SOC code to make the salary threshold easier to meet — this can trigger scrutiny or refusal.
Before you apply: Ask your employer to confirm in writing:
- Your specific SOC code
- Whether your salary meets the going rate for that SOC code
- Whether your occupation appears on the Immigration Salary List
What Counts Toward the Salary Threshold
The salary threshold must be met by your guaranteed basic salary alone. The following are generally not counted toward the threshold:
- Bonuses (discretionary or performance-based)
- Commission payments
- Tips and gratuities
- Overtime pay
- Travel allowances or expense reimbursements
- Employer pension contributions
What does count:
- Guaranteed basic salary
- Allowances guaranteed as part of your contract (non-discretionary location allowances, guaranteed shift premiums written into contract)
If your basic salary is £37,000 and your employer says your total package with bonus reaches £42,000 — your visa application may be refused because the guaranteed basic does not meet the threshold.
Part-Time Work
If your job offer is part-time, the salary threshold applies pro-rata — but only in certain circumstances. The going rate applies to the full-time equivalent of your role. Your actual salary must meet the pro-rata going rate AND you must be genuinely employed part-time (not a lower salary disguised as part-time).
Part-time Skilled Worker Visa sponsorship is less common and subject to additional scrutiny.
How to Find Your Exact SOC Code
- Go to gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations
- Download the current eligible occupations document
- Search for your job title or closest equivalent
- Find the SOC code and the going rate listed for 2026
If your job title does not appear exactly, find the closest matching occupation. Your employer's HR team or immigration solicitor will confirm the correct code. Misclassification of SOC codes is one of the most common sponsor compliance failures.
Frequently Asked Questions
My salary is £37,000. Can my employer still sponsor me?
Not at the standard rate — £38,700 is the floor. Your employer would need to either increase your salary to at least £38,700 (or your occupation's going rate, whichever is higher), check whether your occupation qualifies under the Immigration Salary List discount, or check whether you qualify as a new entrant at 70% of the going rate.
I work in IT. My employer says my salary is £45,000. Does that qualify?
Check your specific SOC code. Software Developer going rate is approximately £49,400. £45,000 would be below the going rate for that role even though it exceeds the general threshold. Your employer needs to either increase the salary or confirm you are on a different SOC code with a lower going rate.
Does the salary need to be in GBP?
Yes — the UK Skilled Worker Visa requires employment in the UK, which is paid in GBP. This is not a remote work visa.
Can I combine two part-time jobs to meet the threshold?
No — the threshold must be met by a single sponsoring employer. You cannot combine salaries from multiple employers to reach the threshold (though you can work additional hours for other employers once in the UK with your primary sponsor's permission).
Internal links: UK Skilled Worker Visa 2026 — Pakistan Guide · UK Student Visa Pakistan 2026 · UK Visa Refused — What to Do Next 2026 · IELTS vs PTE vs Duolingo 2026 · Germany Opportunity Card 2026 · Canada Job Offer for Express Entry 2026
UK Skilled Worker Visa salary thresholds, going rates, and the Immigration Salary List are updated by the UK Home Office. Always verify current thresholds at gov.uk before accepting a job offer or applying. This article reflects March 2026 data.