Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold 2026 - Complete Guide

The salary requirement is the part of the Skilled Worker visa that catches the most applicants out. It is not a single number: your sponsored job has to clear two separate tests at the same time, and the figure that actually applies to you depends on your occupation, your circumstances and the option your employer relies on. Getting it wrong can mean a refusal, a wasted fee and, for the sponsoring employer, questions about their licence.

This 2026 guide explains how the Skilled Worker salary threshold works, the different thresholds and discounts that can apply, how the Home Office calculates your salary, and the common mistakes we see at MCR Solicitors. Because the specific figures change regularly, we tell you throughout where to confirm the current amounts on gov.uk before you rely on them.

How the Skilled Worker salary requirement works

To be sponsored under the Skilled Worker route your pay normally has to meet two tests at once, and you must satisfy the higher of the two:

• The general salary threshold - a minimum floor that applies across the route.
• The going rate for your specific occupation code - the rate set for the particular job you are being sponsored to do, based on national pay data for that occupation.

So if the going rate for your occupation is higher than the general threshold, you must be paid at least the going rate. If the going rate is lower, you still cannot drop below the general threshold (unless a specific discounted option applies). Your salary is assessed against both, and the requirement is whichever figure is greater.

Each job is matched to a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. That code determines your going rate, so choosing the correct occupation code is one of the most important steps in any application. The Home Office publishes the going rate for every eligible occupation in its Skilled Worker guidance.

The general salary threshold in 2026

The general salary threshold was increased substantially in April 2024, when the standard minimum for most new Skilled Worker applicants rose to a significantly higher level than the previous £26,200 floor. The Government has also signalled, through its 2025 immigration policy proposals, a direction of travel towards higher skill and salary requirements over time.

Because these figures are reviewed and updated periodically, and because reforms continue to move through the system, you must confirm the current general threshold and going rates on gov.uk before making or supporting an application. Do not rely on a figure quoted in an older article. The salary rules that apply are generally those in force on the date the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned, so timing matters.

Different thresholds for different applicants

There is not one single general threshold for everyone. The rules provide a set of options, each with its own minimum salary and its own percentage of the going rate. Broadly, lower salary options are available to applicants who fall into particular categories, such as:

• New entrants to the labour market - for example younger applicants, recent graduates, and those switching from certain student or graduate routes.
• Applicants with a relevant PhD, with a further discount where the PhD is in a STEM subject relevant to the job.
• Health and care workers and education roles covered by national pay scales, which are treated differently and measured against those published scales.
• Jobs on the Immigration Salary List (which replaced the former Shortage Occupation List), where these arrangements remain available.

Each option sets both a cash floor and a percentage of the going rate you must be paid - for example a reduced percentage of the going rate for new entrants. You must meet the specific cash figure and the specific percentage for whichever option you are relying on. The exact amounts and percentages are set out in the Home Office guidance and should be checked there.

Going rates: why your occupation code matters

The going rate is the pay benchmark for your particular occupation. Under the framework introduced in April 2024, going rates are generally aligned to national median pay data for each occupation, which raised many of them. Two applicants on the same headline salary can get different outcomes purely because their jobs sit in different occupation codes with different going rates.

This is why we always advise employers and applicants to:

• Match the job to the most accurate SOC code for the actual duties, not simply the closest-sounding job title.
• Check the published going rate for that code and compare it against the salary on offer.
• Remember that going rates are usually quoted on a standard full-time basis (commonly 37.5 hours per week) and are adjusted for the hours actually worked.

How the Home Office calculates your salary

The salary that counts is not always the number in an offer letter. The Home Office looks at your guaranteed basic gross pay for your normal working hours. In general terms:

• Guaranteed basic salary counts. This is the regular, contractual pay you are guaranteed to receive.
• Many additional payments do not count towards the threshold - for example overtime, bonuses that are not guaranteed, commission, tips, and the value of benefits in kind such as accommodation or health insurance.
• Some allowances can count where they are guaranteed and paid regularly, such as certain guaranteed London weighting or shift allowances - but the rules here are technical and you should check the current guidance carefully.
• Pension contributions and employer costs are generally excluded from the calculation.

Working hours matter too. Going rates are pro-rated, but there are limits on how far part-time hours can be used to reduce the cash figure you must actually be paid, so a low headline salary cannot always be rescued by quoting fewer hours. This is a frequent source of refusals.

Recent and upcoming changes to be aware of

The Skilled Worker route has changed significantly in a short period, and further reform is expected:

• April 2024: the general threshold was raised, going rates were updated to higher median-based figures, and the Shortage Occupation List was replaced by the Immigration Salary List.
• 2025 policy proposals: the Government set out plans to raise skill and salary requirements further and to reshape parts of the route, including the future of the Immigration Salary List and the level of qualification a sponsored job must sit at.
• Transitional arrangements have applied to some people already in the route on earlier rules, but these are limited and time-bound.

Because the position continues to move, the single most important thing you can do is confirm the current rules and figures on gov.uk, or take advice, before committing to an application. What was correct even a few months ago may no longer apply.

What to do if you do not meet the salary threshold

If the offered salary falls short, there are sometimes legitimate ways forward. Depending on the circumstances these can include:

• Checking whether a lower salary option applies to you - for example new entrant status or a relevant PhD discount.
• Confirming the job is matched to the correct occupation code, as an incorrect code can produce an artificially high going rate.
• Reviewing whether the role sits on the Immigration Salary List, where relevant.
• The employer increasing the guaranteed basic salary so that the correct threshold is met.

What you must not do is inflate the salary on paper without paying it, or misdescribe the job to fit a lower going rate. That risks refusal for the worker and enforcement action against the sponsor, including revocation of the sponsor licence.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Skilled Worker visa salary threshold for 2026?

There is no single figure. You must meet the higher of the general salary threshold and the going rate for your occupation, subject to any lower option you qualify for. The general threshold was raised in April 2024 and continues to be reviewed. Always confirm the current amount for your situation on gov.uk before relying on it.

Does the going rate or the general threshold apply to me?

Both apply. You compare the general threshold (or the applicable discounted option) against the going rate for your occupation code, and you must be paid at least the higher of the two figures.

Are there lower salary thresholds for some applicants?

Yes. Reduced options can apply to new entrants, applicants with a relevant PhD (with a further reduction for STEM PhDs), some health, care and education roles on national pay scales, and certain jobs on the Immigration Salary List. Each option has its own cash floor and its own percentage of the going rate.

Do bonuses, overtime and allowances count towards the threshold?

Generally the threshold is based on your guaranteed basic gross pay. Overtime, non-guaranteed bonuses, commission, tips and benefits in kind usually do not count. Some guaranteed, regularly paid allowances may count. Because the rules are technical, check the current Home Office guidance or take advice.

Can I meet the salary requirement by working part-time?

Going rates are pro-rated for hours worked, but there are limits on using reduced hours to lower the cash amount you must actually be paid. A part-time arrangement will not always meet the requirement, so this needs to be checked carefully for your specific role.

What happens if my salary is below the required level?

The application is likely to be refused. Before applying, it is worth checking whether a lower option applies, whether the occupation code is correct, and whether the employer can increase the guaranteed basic salary. Salary must never be overstated on paper.

Speak to MCR Solicitors about your Skilled Worker application

The salary rules are one of the most technical and fast-changing parts of the Skilled Worker route, and a small error in the occupation code or salary calculation can lead to a refusal. Our immigration team advises both employers and individual applicants on sponsorship, salary thresholds, Certificates of Sponsorship and sponsor licence compliance.

For clear, practical advice tailored to your circumstances, call MCR Solicitors on 0161 466 1280 or contact us to arrange a consultation. We will help you confirm the correct threshold, check that your role qualifies, and give your application the best chance of success.