“What salary do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?” has no single answer. You must clear two separate tests, and the higher of the two wins. Here is how the 2026 rules work.
The two tests
- The general salary threshold — a flat floor that applies to almost everyone.
- The going rate for your SOC code — a per-occupation figure published by the Home Office.
You must meet both. If the general threshold is £41,700 and your occupation's going rate is £48,000, you need £48,000. If your going rate is £30,000 but the threshold is £41,700, you need £41,700.
General thresholds in 2026
| Who you are | General threshold |
|---|---|
| Most new applicants | £41,700 |
| New entrants, and jobs on the Immigration Salary List | £33,400 |
| Already in the route before April 2024 (extending) | £31,300 |
| Health and care roles paid on national pay scales | £25,000 |
These thresholds took effect on 22 July 2025. Figures verified against GOV.UK on 2026-08-10.
Going rates: the number most people miss
Every eligible SOC code has its own published going rate, and for many professional occupations it is well above the general threshold. Each code has two figures:
- Standard going rate — the normal requirement.
- Lower going rate — applies only if you qualify for a discount (new entrant, PhD, Immigration Salary List, and similar).
For example, occupation code 1111 (chief executives and senior officials) carries a standard going rate of £88,100 and a lower rate of £60,000. No general threshold helps you there — you need the going rate.
You can look up both figures for all 412 codes in our occupations and codes table.
Who qualifies for a discounted rate
The “new entrant” rate is the most widely used discount. You may qualify if you are:
- under 26 on the date of application;
- switching from a Student or Graduate visa;
- working towards a recognised professional qualification; or
- in a UK-regulated postdoctoral position.
New entrant status normally lasts up to four years in total, after which you must meet the full rate — worth planning for well before your extension.
What does not count towards your salary
Only guaranteed basic gross pay counts. The Home Office excludes overtime, bonuses (including guaranteed ones in most cases), tips, shift allowances, pension contributions, private medical cover, and the value of accommodation or travel. A £38,000 base salary “plus £6,000 of overtime” does not reach £41,700.
How part-time and hourly rates work
Going rates are published both as an annual figure for a 37.5-hour week and as an hourly rate. Where you work fewer hours, the going rate element is pro-rated — but the general threshold is applied to your actual annual salary. This is why part-time sponsorship is rare: a role would need an unusually high hourly rate to clear £41,700 on reduced hours.
Checking your own offer
- Find your occupation in the codes table and note the standard going rate.
- Decide whether any discount genuinely applies to you.
- Take the higher of (a) the applicable general threshold and (b) the applicable going rate.
- Compare that against your basic gross salary only.
Then work out what the move will actually cost you with our visa cost calculator, and check your employer is licensed on the sponsor list.