UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold 2026 — Full List by Job
Complete 2026 breakdown of Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds: general minimum £38,700, going rates by occupation code, new-entrant discount and shortage route rules.
The Skilled Worker visa is the UK's main work route, and in 2026 the salary rules are stricter than ever. If your salary doesn't clear the threshold, your application is refused — no judgement, no appeal on that ground. This guide walks you through every threshold that applies in April 2026, who each one hits, and how to check whether your specific job code qualifies.
The three numbers you need to know
There is no single "Skilled Worker salary threshold." Your application must clear three separate salary tests simultaneously:
- General minimum salary — £38,700 per year for most new applicants from April 2026.
- Going rate for your occupation code — varies by SOC 2020 job code, published by the Home Office.
- £15.88 per hour — minimum hourly rate regardless of contract type.
You must meet all three. The Home Office takes the highest of the three as your effective threshold. A nurse on £32,000 fails even if nursing's going rate is lower, because the general minimum isn't met (unless they qualify for a discount — see below).
Who qualifies for a lower threshold?
Five groups get a discount from the £38,700 headline figure:
| Group | Minimum salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New entrants (under 26, or recent graduate, or moving from Student visa) | £30,960 | Max 4 years on this rate |
| PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the role | £34,830 | Subject must match job |
| PhD in a non-STEM subject relevant to the role | £38,700 (no discount in 2026) | Changed April 2025 |
| Immigration Salary List occupation | £30,960 | Replaced the old Shortage Occupation List |
| Health & Care visa (eligible healthcare roles) | £25,600 or going rate | Separate route; see our Health & Care guide |
The new-entrant discount is the most commonly missed. If you're 25, graduated within the last 2 years, or switching from a UK Student visa — apply it. It saves £7,740 per year on the threshold.
Going rates by occupation — the ones most people apply for
Every SOC 2020 code has its own going rate, set at the 25th percentile of UK earnings for that role. Here are the 2026 figures for the most commonly sponsored roles:
- Software developer (2136) — £49,400
- Programmer and software development professional (2134) — £49,400
- IT business analyst, architect and systems designer (2135) — £52,300
- Chartered and certified accountants (2421) — £39,700
- Management consultants and business analysts (2423) — £42,900
- Registered nurse (2231) — £31,081 (Health & Care route) / £38,700 (Skilled Worker)
- Care worker (6135) — Closed to new overseas applications from March 2025
- Civil engineer (2121) — £40,500
- Mechanical engineer (2122) — £38,900
- Secondary school teacher (2314) — £31,650 (under education pay scale)
- Chef (5434) — £30,960 (Immigration Salary List)
- Graphic designer (3421) — £30,960 (under new-entrant rate only)
If your role's going rate is above £38,700, the going rate applies. If it's below, £38,700 applies (unless you qualify for a discount group).
The Immigration Salary List — what replaced the Shortage Occupation List
From April 2024 the Shortage Occupation List was abolished. In its place, the Immigration Salary List (ISL) offers a 20% discount on the general threshold for specific roles where the UK cannot fill vacancies domestically.
ISL roles in 2026 include:
- Bricklayers and masons (5312)
- Roofers, roof tilers and slaters (5313)
- Construction and building trades supervisors (5330)
- Animal care services occupations (6139, partial)
- Laboratory technicians (3111)
- Boat and ship builders and repairers (5235)
- Stonemasons and related trades (5311)
If you're on the ISL, the minimum drops from £38,700 to £30,960 — but you still need to clear your occupation's going rate and £15.88/hour.
How salary is calculated — the gotchas
The Home Office doesn't just take your offer letter number at face value. They count:
- Basic gross salary only. Bonuses, commission, overtime, allowances (including London weighting in most cases), in-kind benefits and pension contributions do not count.
- Guaranteed allowances — some allowances count if they are guaranteed in the Certificate of Sponsorship and paid regardless of performance. Car allowances and accommodation allowances usually don't.
- Weekly hours — the salary is assessed against a standard 37.5-hour week. If you work 30 hours, your gross is pro-rated up to 37.5 hours for threshold purposes — which is why £15.88/hour exists as a floor.
Example: You're offered £35,000 for a 30-hour week. The full-time equivalent is £43,750, which clears £38,700. But if you're offered £32,000 for 37.5 hours, you fail — even if your hourly rate is fine.
What happens if your salary rises later
Your threshold is locked at the time your Certificate of Sponsorship is issued. If thresholds rise after you're granted leave, you're fine for your current visa — but an extension or switch will be assessed at the new rate.
This bites hardest at extension stage. Applicants granted leave in 2023 at the old £26,200 threshold now face £38,700 when they extend in 2028. Many will need to negotiate a pay rise or switch employer.
What to do next
- Find your SOC 2020 code. Your sponsor should know; if not, the ONS's SOC 2020 tool is the definitive source.
- Check your going rate. Home Office Appendix Skilled Occupations lists every code and rate.
- Confirm which threshold group you're in. New entrant? ISL? PhD-STEM? Apply the discount.
- Verify £15.88/hour on your actual working hours.
If all three clear with a margin of at least £500, you're safe. Thin margins are risky — Home Office caseworkers round down, not up.
Our UK Skilled Worker visa guide covers the full application process, document list and fee breakdown.