Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold 2026

The salary threshold is the single most common reason Skilled Worker visa applications fail. Get it wrong and your application is refused. Get it right and the rest of the process is straightforward. This guide explains exactly how the threshold works, what the going rate is for your occupation, and which exceptions might apply to your situation.

In 2026, the UK Skilled Worker visa has two salary hurdles. Your job must pay at least the general threshold of £38,700 per year, and it must also meet the going rate for your specific occupation (set by SOC code). Whichever figure is higher is the one you must meet. For some roles, especially in healthcare and education, special rules bring the effective threshold lower.

How the threshold is calculated

The Home Office applies a two-part test to every Skilled Worker visa application:

1. General threshold: £38,700 per year. This is a flat figure that applies to almost all Skilled Worker visa applications (with some exceptions for healthcare, education, and new entrants).
2. Going rate: A role-specific salary set by the Migration Advisory Committee for each SOC code. It is based on the 25th percentile of earnings data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). This figure varies widely —from £23,200 for care workers to £55,000+ for medical practitioners and IT directors.

Your salary must meet whichever is higher. For a software developer (SOC 2136), the going rate is £45,000, which exceeds the general threshold of £38,700, so you need at least £45,000. For a chef (SOC 5434), the going rate is £29,970, which is below the general threshold, so you would normally need £38,700 — unless an exception applies.

Only guaranteed base salary and contractual allowances count. Performance bonuses, overtime, tips, commission, and benefits-in-kind are excluded. If you receive a guaranteed London weighting allowance written into your contract, that counts. If your base is £36,000 with a discretionary bonus of £10,000, only £36,000 counts.

Going rates by occupation (top 15 SOC codes)

Effective min. shows the actual minimum salary needed — the higher of the going rate and the £38,700 general threshold. Healthcare roles on the Health and Care Worker visa may have a lower effective minimum.

Exceptions to the general threshold

Several categories of workers can qualify at a lower salary than the standard £38,700. These exceptions can make a significant difference for roles where the going rate is below the general threshold.

New entrants (70% of going rate)

You qualify as a new entrant if any of the following apply:

• You are under 26 years old on the date of application
• You are a recent graduate (within 2 years of completing a UK degree or equivalent)
• You are in a recognised professional training programme (e.g., trainee solicitor, trainee accountant)
• You are switching from a Student visa or Graduate visa to a Skilled Worker visa

New entrants need to meet 70% of the going rate. For a software developer, that is£31,500 instead of £45,000. However, there is also a new entrant floor of £30,960 —you cannot go below that regardless of the 70% calculation. New entrant status lasts for a maximum of 4 years, after which you must meet the full going rate.

PhD holders (salary discount)

If you hold a PhD relevant to the job, you may qualify at 90% of the going rate. If your PhD is in a STEM subject relevant to the role, the discount increases to 80% of the going rate. This can be stacked with other discounts where applicable. For a software developer with a relevant STEM PhD, the threshold would be 80% of £45,000 =£36,000.

Immigration Salary List (formerly Shortage Occupation List)

Roles on the Immigration Salary List benefit from a reduced threshold. The going rate for these roles is set at 80% of the standard going rate. The Immigration Salary List is reviewed periodically by the Migration Advisory Committee. Notable roles currently on the list include certain engineering occupations, some healthcare roles, and specific technical positions. Always check the latest version, as it changes.

Health and Care Worker visa

Healthcare workers eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa route only need to meet the going rate for their SOC code — the £38,700 general threshold does not apply to them. This means a nurse (SOC 2231) only needs to earn £25,655, and a care worker (SOC 6145) only needs £23,200. This exception is critical for making healthcare recruitment viable.

Worked examples

Here are real scenarios showing how the threshold applies in practice:

How SkilledWorker checks thresholds

Every job listing on SkilledWorker shows a salary badge. We check the advertised salary against the general threshold (£38,700) or the occupation-specific going rate if you have selected an SOC code filter. Here is what the badges mean:

• Meets threshold — salary is at or above the required minimum
• May meet threshold — salary range overlaps with the threshold (e.g., £35,000 - £45,000)
• Below threshold — listed salary is below what is needed for a visa

You can use the salary threshold calculator on any sponsor page to check specific roles against the going rate for their SOC code.

Common pitfalls

• Confusing gross and net salary. The threshold is based on gross (before tax) annual salary. Do not use your take-home pay figure.
• Relying on bonuses. Variable pay does not count. Only guaranteed contractual pay qualifies. If your offer letter says base salary £35,000 plus discretionary bonus up to £15,000, only £35,000 counts.
• Ignoring part-time pro-rating. The going rate is pro-rated for part-time hours, but the general threshold of £38,700 is not. A part-time worker doing 30 hours per week in a role with a £30,000 going rate would have a pro-rated going rate of £24,000, but still needs £38,700 unless an exception applies.
• Assuming new entrant status is permanent. New entrant rates only apply for up to 4 years. After that, you must meet the full threshold. Plan your salary progression accordingly.
• Not checking the latest going rates. The Migration Advisory Committee updates going rates periodically. Always verify the current rate for your SOC code before accepting an offer.

What to do if the salary is below the threshold

1. Negotiate. Many employers do not realise the visa salary threshold is higher than what they are offering. Point them to the going rate for your SOC code. Frame it as a legal requirement, not a personal preference.
2. Check for guaranteed allowances. London weighting, guaranteed on-call supplements, and other contractual allowances can count toward the threshold if they are written into your employment contract as guaranteed pay.
3. Check new entrant eligibility. If you are under 26 or a recent graduate, the 70% discount could bring the threshold within range of your offer.
4. Check Immigration Salary List. If your occupation is on the list, the going rate is reduced to 80% of the standard rate, which may bring it below the offered salary.
5. Look at other companies. Use SkilledWorker to find sponsors in your field with higher salary ranges. The salary threshold calculator makes this easy to compare across sponsors.

Frequently asked questions