Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary 2025

The UK Skilled Worker Visa minimum salary is one of the more complex requirements when sponsoring individuals under the Skilled Worker route. It is also one of the most common grounds for visa refusals, where the salary is incorrectly calculated or an incorrect salary threshold is applies.

There is no single, universal Skilled Worker minimum salary threshold. The relevant minimum salary level must be identified using the latest Home Office guidance and ensuring the correct minimum level is used for the specific role and applicant circumstances.

Any errors in applying the rules or in calculating the salary level can result in a refused visa application or even enforcement action against the sponsor for non-compliance with the sponsor guidance rules.

In this guide, we set out the current thresholds for the Skilled Worker visa minimum salary, with guidance on how salaries should be calculated and when lower thresholds may be available.

 

Section A: How Much is the Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary?

 

Appendix Skilled Worker sets out the Skilled Worker salary requirements, including the availability of lower salary thresholds.

In most cases, a Skilled Worker visa worker’s salary must meet or exceed all of the relevant threshold and the going rate for the occupation code as stated in the relevant Table of Appendix Skilled Occupations. For most Skilled Worker applicants, Table 1 will apply, while Table 2 is for specified health and care occupations and transitional provisions in respect of the April 2024 higher thresholds. 

The standard Skilled Worker Visa minimum salary is now £38,700, where no salary discounts are applicable. This threshold was increased for applications submitted on or after 4 April 2024. Previously, the minimum salary threshold was £26,200, which itself was an increase from £25,600 in March 2023.

This means that to be eligible for the Skilled Worker visa, most applicants will need to earn at least £38,700 per annum, and meet or exceed the relevant going rate for their occupation code.

Note that Health and Care Worker applicants can meet a lower salary threshold of £29,000 per annum, and the full going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations, where no discounts apply.

If the worker benefits from ‘tradeable points’, they may be able to rely on a lower salary threshold. For example if they have a job offer for a role on the Immigration Salary List (previously known as the shortage occupation list) or they hold a relevant PhD qualification. The Immigration Salary List is due to be retired and replaced with a new Temporary Shortage List, under proposals outlined in the Government’s Immigration White Paper.

 

 

Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary Thresholds – General (based on median earnings)
Option	Description	Requirements
A	Salary only (no discounts)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £38,700 (general threshold) * the full going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £15.88 per hour
B	Relevant PhD (10% discount on general threshold and going rate)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £34,830 (general threshold) * 90% of the going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £15.88 per hour
C	Relevant PhD in a STEM subject (20% discount on general threshold and going rate)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £30,960 (general threshold) * 80% of the going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £15.88 per hour
D	Job in Appendix Immigration Salary List (20% discount on general threshold only)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £30,960 (general threshold) * the full going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £15.88 per hour
E	New entrant (20% discount on general threshold and 30% discount on going rate)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £30,960 (general threshold) * 70% of the going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £15.88 per hour

 

Going rates linked to Agenda for Change pay bands and doctors’ and dentists’ contracts were uprated on 1 April 2025; sponsors must use the new figures shown in Appendix Skilled Occupations (version dated 9 April 2025).

 

Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary Thresholds For Specified Health and Care Occupations and Transitional Provision
Option	Description	Requirements
F	Salary only (no discounts)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £29,000 (general threshold) * the full going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £12.82 per hour
G	Relevant PhD (10% discount on general threshold and going rate)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £26,100 (general threshold) * 90% of the going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £12.82 per hour
H	Relevant PhD in a STEM subject (20% salary on general threshold and going rate)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £25,000 (general threshold) * 80% of the going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £12.82 per hour
I	Job in Appendix Immigration Salary List (20% discount on general threshold only)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £25,000 (general threshold) * the full going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 2 of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £12.82 per hour
J	New entrant (20% discount on general threshold and 30% discount on going rate)	Salary must meet or exceed all of: * £25,000 (general threshold) * 70% of the going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations * £12.82 per hour

 

 

Health and education occupations based on national pay scales
Option	Description	Requirements
K	Eligible health or education occupation code	Salary must meet or exceed both: * £25,000 (general threshold) * the full going rate for the occupation code as stated in Table 3, 4 or 5 of Appendix Skilled Occupations

 

 

Section B: Skilled Worker Visa Lower Minimum Salary Thresholds

 

In certain circumstances, a lower Skilled Worker visa minimum salary threshold than the standard salary requirement of £38,700 or the job’s standard going rate may be available under the ‘tradeable points’ rules.

To qualify for a lower salary threshold, the applicant must meet one of the tradeable options set out in Table 2 or Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Worker. In most of these cases, the applicant may be paid between 70% and 90% of the full going rate for their occupation, as long as their salary does not fall below the relevant salary floor, currently £30,960 or £26,100, depending on the route used.

The following scenarios may allow for reduced salary thresholds:

 

1. New Entrants to the Labour Market

Applicants classified as “new entrants” can be paid 70% of the going rate for their occupation, provided their salary is at least £30,960. This category is available only for the first Skilled Worker application and is time-limited (see below for detailed criteria).

 

2. PhD-level Roles

Applicants holding a STEM PhD qualification relevant to their sponsored job may be paid 80% of the going rate, with a minimum salary of £30,960.
If the PhD is in a non-STEM subject, the applicant must still be paid at least £26,100 per year and 90% of the going rate.

 

3. Postdoctoral Research Roles

Jobs classified under certain research-related occupation codes (e.g. 2111, 2112, 2113, 2119) and sponsored for postdoctoral positions may also be paid 70% of the going rate, with a minimum of £30,960. These roles are typically in academia or research institutions.

 

4. Immigration Salary List (ISL)

Jobs listed on the Immigration Salary List (formerly the Shortage Occupation List) benefit from relaxed salary requirements. Workers in these roles may be paid 80% of the going rate, provided their salary is at least £30,960 per year. Unlike other tradeable points options, the ISL also provides a discounted visa application fee and slightly reduced Immigration Health Surcharge.

The Immigration Salary List is reviewed regularly by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and includes roles where there is evidence of national labour shortages and strategic importance to the UK economy. It is important to check whether a role remains on the list before relying on this option.

 

5. New Entrants: Criteria and Restrictions

A Skilled Worker applicant may be classed as a new entrant if they meet one of the following criteria at the date of application:

 

• They are under the age of 26 and this is their first application under the Skilled Worker route.
• They are switching from a Student or Graduate visa, or recently completed a UK degree within the last two years.
• They are being sponsored to undertake a postdoctoral research position.
• They are working towards professional registration or chartered status in a recognised profession.

 

New entrants may benefit from a reduced salary threshold of £30,960 and a lower percentage of the going rate, but only for a maximum total of four years (including any previous leave under Graduate or Tier 2 routes). If they apply to extend their permission or settle in the UK, they will no longer qualify as a new entrant and must meet the full salary requirements applicable to experienced workers.

 

Section C: Calculating Salary for the Skilled Worker Visa Applications

 

When calculating the salary for Skilled Worker Visa applications, several components need to be considered:

 

a. Basic Salary: This is the primary salary agreed upon in the employment contract.

b. Allowances: Certain allowances can be included in the salary calculation.

c. Overtime and Bonuses: Generally, these are not included unless guaranteed and contractual.

 

1. What counts as ‘salary’?

 

Under paragraphs SW 14.1–14.2 of Appendix Skilled Worker a sponsor may count only guaranteed gross basic pay when calculating salary for points purposes. The Home Office will also accept other guaranteed payments (for example London weighting) but only if they are treated exactly like basic pay for tax, pension and National Insurance. No other remuneration can be included. Payments that must be excluded include overtime, shift premia, tips, discretionary or performance-related bonuses, commission that is not fixed, benefits-in-kind, employer pension contributions, allowances for accommodation, travel or subsistence, and share options.

When caseworkers test a salary against the relevant general salary threshold (£38,700 for most applicants, or one of the lower figures available under options F–K), they will consider pay for a maximum of 48 hours per week. Hours worked beyond 48 cannot boost the headline figure, unless the role follows an irregular pattern where the average across a cycle of up to 17 weeks does not exceed 48 hours.

Going-rate salaries shown in Appendix Skilled Occupations assume 37.5 hours a week for Tables 1, 2 and 2a, 40 hours for doctors in Table 3, and other specific full-time equivalents for teachers, dentists and Agenda for Change roles. Sponsors must pro-rate the annual going rate by dividing it by the reference hours in the table and then multiplying by the contracted weekly hours on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Workers who were first sponsored under Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker before 1 December 2026 may continue to count guaranteed allowances (even if not taxed like basic pay) when extending or changing sponsor, provided the allowances will be paid for the full period of permission and would be available to a settled worker in similar circumstances. One-off bonuses remain excluded.

From 9 April 2025 any amount the worker pays back to the sponsor, such as to cover visa costs, must be deducted from the headline salary before the Home Office checks the thresholds. The only exception is a genuine, voluntary salary-sacrifice scheme that is unrelated to business or immigration costs and gives the worker additional benefits (for example, childcare vouchers).

 

2. Practical tips for employers

 

When assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship for a Skilled Worker, employers must state the gross, guaranteed basic annual salary. You may include additional payments only if they are contractually guaranteed, taxed through PAYE, and treated in the same way as salary for pension and National Insurance purposes.

You must not include overtime, discretionary bonuses, commission that is not fixed, benefits-in-kind, or allowances for accommodation, travel, or subsistence costs. These are excluded from the salary calculation, even if they are paid regularly.

If testing against the general salary threshold (e.g. £38,700 for most applicants), the salary calculation must be capped at a maximum of 48 hours per week, even if the employee works more. In contrast, when assessing whether the salary meets the occupation-specific going rate, you should use the number of weekly hours stated on the CoS and pro-rate the going rate accordingly. This ensures that part-time and full-time roles are assessed fairly, based on the correct full-time equivalent assumptions listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations.

Any repayments or deductions made by the employee to the sponsor—such as for visa costs, accommodation or relocation—must be deducted from the gross salary figure unless they fall within a recognised voluntary salary-sacrifice scheme that meets specific criteria.

Where an applicant is relying on transitional rules under paragraph SW 14.5(a)—for example, because they were first sponsored before 1 December 2026—you may continue to count certain allowances, but only if those allowances are guaranteed for the full duration of permission and would be available to settled workers in comparable roles.

 

Section D: Selecting the Correct Occupation Code

 

To be eligible for the Skilled Worker route, the role must feature on the Government’s list of eligible occupations under the Immigration Rules. The list also specifies the ‘going rate’ for each role and minimum salary requirements for ‘new entrants’ and other workers.

If the occupation code sets out a higher going rate salary than the relevant absolute minimum threshold, this is the salary that must be paid.

When choosing an occupation code (SOC code), employers should use the CASCOT occupation coding tool to find the closest match to the job being offered and use the correct code relevant to the role. If the occupation code selected is not on the list, it is ineligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route. In April 2024, the Home Office moved to the Standard Occupational Classification 2020 coding system; employers are advised to check the new system codes on all applications to ensure compliance with the correct system.

You should also prepare for the Home Office to assess and verify the SOC provided by considering the job description of the role being recruited for.

Failure to enter the correct occupation code is likely to result in the worker’s visa being refused.

If a genuine error has been made in selecting an incorrect occupation code, it may be possible to remedy this. However, if the Home Office believe the incorrect code was originally selected to manufacture sponsorship, as the correct code would not have met the salary or skill level required for the role, then they have the power to suspend the employer’s sponsor licence whilst they investigate further.

The occupation codes list is also continually updated, so it is important to check that previously used codes are still eligible when sponsoring a new worker.

 

Section E: Skilled Worker to ILR minimum salary

 

An individual who has held permission under the Skilled Worker visa route for five years can make an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). In order to do this, they must meet a number of requirements, such as:

 

a. Meet the ILR minimum salary requirement or the going rate for their role, if greater.

b. Proof of identity – a valid passport, valid biometric residence permit, or biometric residence cards are all accepted by the Home Office as proof of identity. Applicants will also need to provide a digital facial photograph and their fingerprints if they do not already have a valid biometric residence card.

c. Proof of continuous residence in the UK – applicants will need to prove they have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for a least 6 months in a 12-month period for 5 consecutive years.

d. Declare any criminal convictions if the applicant is over the age of 18 – ‘spent convictions’, ‘cautions’, or fines do not need to be declared.

 

Section F: Summary

 

The salary rules for Skilled Worker visa applications are complex, and have been subject to frequent change. However, any issues or errors with salary calculations or stated salaries for applications can result in application refusals and potential enforcement action. To avoid problems, take professional advice for guidance on complying with the relevant rules and thresholds.

 

Section G: Need Assistance?

 

We are specialists in UK business immigration, with substantial experience and recognised expertise in advising employers and workers on all aspects of hiring under the Skilled Worker visa and sponsoring skilled workers. For specialist immigration advice on Skilled Worker eligibility and the application process, including calculating salary and matching occupational codes, contact us.

 

Section H: Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary FAQs

 

What is the minimum salary for Skilled Worker visa?

Under the Skilled Worker visa, most applicants will be required to earn a minimum salary of £38,700 per year or the relevant going rate for their role, whichever is higher. A lower salary threshold may be available if certain criteria apply, such as the worker being classed as a ‘new entrant’ or having a relevant PhD.

 

What are the requirements for Skilled Worker visa?

A worker must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa: the role is eligible for the visa; the worker will be paid the minimum salary or the ‘going rate’ for the type of work the worker will be doing, whichever is the greater; the worker will work for a UK employer that is licensed to sponsor overseas workers.

 

How many hours can you work on a Skilled Worker visa?

While there is no formal cap on hours for a main sponsored role, extra work is limited and subject to specific Home Office rules.

 

Does a Skilled Worker visa lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) (settlement)?

Time spent in the UK under the skilled worker route can count towards the period of continuous residence for an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), although all other ILR requirements must also be met by the applicant.

 

Section I: Glossary

 

Term	Definition
Base Salary	The fixed annual amount paid to an employee, excluding bonuses, overtime, and other allowances.
Overtime	Additional pay for hours worked beyond the standard working hours. Included in salary calculation if regular or guaranteed.
Bonuses	Extra payments given to employees. Guaranteed bonuses are included in salary calculations, but discretionary ones are not.
Commission	Earnings based on sales or performance. Included in salary calculation if guaranteed or based on a fixed formula.
Allowances	Additional payments for expenses such as accommodation or travel. Generally not included in salary calculations.
Immigration Salary List	A list of skilled jobs with lower salary requirements and reduced visa application fees.
Going Rate	The average salary for a specific job role as determined by the UK government.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)	A reference number issued by a UK employer with a sponsor licence, necessary for visa applications.
Sponsor Licence	Authorisation that a UK employer must hold to hire foreign workers under the Skilled Worker Visa.
Points-Based System	The UK immigration system that allocates points based on criteria such as job offer, salary, and English proficiency.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)	Permanent residency status in the UK, allowing an individual to live and work without time restrictions.
Personal Savings	Proof of funds required to show that an applicant can support themselves financially in the UK.
TB Test	A tuberculosis test required for visa applicants from certain countries.
Police Certificate	A document certifying an individual’s criminal record status, required if they have lived in any country for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
Visa Application Centre	A location where visa applicants submit biometric information and supporting documents.
New Entrant	A recent graduate or individual under 26 years old applying for their first professional role, eligible for a lower salary threshold.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	A fee paid by visa applicants to access the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

 

 

Section J: Additional Resources

 

UK Visas and Immigration: Skilled Worker Visa
https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Comprehensive guide on eligibility, application process, and requirements for the Skilled Worker Visa.

 

Guidance for Sponsors: Skilled Worker Visa
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workers-and-temporary-workers-guidance-for-sponsors-part-2-sponsorship-duties
Detailed information for employers on sponsorship duties and compliance.

 

Visa Application Process
https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/apply
Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa: Step-by-step application process for the Skilled Worker Visa.

 

Occupational Codes and Salary Rates
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-skilled-occupations
Official list of occupation codes and corresponding salary rates.

 

Explore UK Job Salaries
https://www.salary.com/research/salary/listing
Tool to explore salary information for various job roles in the UK.