UK Skilled Worker Salary Threshold & ISL Guide 2026

1. Executive Summary & Salary Rules Overview

The Skilled Worker Visa requires sponsored roles to pay a minimum annual salary threshold matching Home Office 2026 statutory rates.

2. Tradeable Salary Points Matrix

The table below outlines how tradeable salary options satisfy the 20 tradeable points requirement:

3. SOC 2020 Occupation Codes & Going Rates

UKVI uses SOC 2020 occupation codes to determine whether a job is eligible and what its going rate is. Each occupation has a specific going rate. These rates are generally stated for a 37.5-hour working week and must be pro-rated for different working patterns. The occupation code and job duties on the CoS must accurately match the sponsored role.

4. Employer CoS Verification & Hourly Minimums

The CoS must accurately state the sponsored role, occupation code, salary and working pattern. Current going-rate calculations use a 37.5-hour week and are pro-rated for other working patterns. Where the applicable going rate or percentage is below £17.13 per hour, £17.13 per hour is the applicable going-rate floor in the relevant calculations.

5. How to Calculate the Actual Minimum Salary

The Skilled Worker salary test generally requires the applicant to satisfy both the relevant general salary threshold and the occupation's applicable going rate. Start by identifying the correct SOC 2020 occupation code, then select the salary option for which the applicant qualifies. The required salary is whichever combination of the applicable general threshold and going-rate percentage produces the higher required amount.

6. Salary Calculation and Working Hours

Going rates are generally published on the basis of a 37.5-hour working week. Where the sponsored role has different weekly hours, the going rate must be pro-rated using the weekly hours stated by the sponsor. The £17.13-per-hour floor applies within the current going-rate calculations where the calculated applicable rate would otherwise fall below that amount.

7. Immigration Salary List vs Temporary Shortage List

The Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List serve different functions within the current Skilled Worker framework. An ISL job can qualify for the £33,400 general threshold plus the full going rate. A job appearing on the Temporary Shortage List is subject to the specific eligibility and salary rules attached to that list. Transitional provisions can also preserve eligibility for some medium-skilled occupations.

8. New Entrant and PhD Salary Discounts

The New Entrant option is not limited to recent graduates. Depending on the applicant, it can apply to people under 26, qualifying Student or Graduate switchers, certain professional-training candidates and qualifying postdoctoral positions. Relevant PhD options also have separate rules: a relevant non-STEM PhD uses £37,500 and 90% of the going rate, while a relevant STEM PhD uses £33,400 and 80%.

9. Transitional Salary Rules

Applicants who first received Skilled Worker or equivalent permission before 4 April 2024 and have continuously held qualifying permission can fall under lower transitional salary thresholds. Other special salary provisions apply to qualifying healthcare and education occupations. These transitional cases must be checked separately rather than applying the ordinary £41,700 threshold automatically.

10. Salary Rules at Skilled Worker Settlement

Settlement has its own salary assessment. The current Skilled Worker occupation tables state that only the full going-rate column applies to settlement; the 70%, 80% and 90% reduced going-rate columns do not apply. The general settlement salary is normally £41,700 plus the applicable full going rate, subject to ISL, healthcare/education and qualifying transitional exceptions.

Frequently Asked Questions (6)

Official References