Figures verified against GOV.UK on 25 August 2026. Salary thresholds and going rates change without much notice — always confirm the current figures on GOV.UK before you or your employer submit a Certificate of Sponsorship.
If you’ve been offered a job in the UK and your employer says they’ll sponsor you on a Skilled Worker visa, the first question is simple: does the salary meet the threshold? The answer is rarely just one number. The Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds work as a dual test – a general minimum, and a job-specific “going rate” – and on top of that, several groups (including recent graduates) qualify for a lower bar. This guide breaks down exactly what applies to you.
What Is the Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold in 2026?
For most new Skilled Worker applications, your salary must meet whichever is higher of:
- The general salary threshold: £41,700 per year, or
- The “going rate” for your specific occupation code (SOC code)
This dual-test structure has applied since 22 July 2025, when the general threshold rose sharply from its previous level. If your job offer sits above £41,700 but below the going rate for that specific role, it still won’t meet the requirement – the going rate wins. Sponsors and applicants both need to check the occupation-specific figure, not just the headline number.
The going rate is set out in the Home Office’s Appendix Skilled Occupations table on GOV.UK, listed by SOC code, and it’s reviewed periodically – so the figure that legally counts is whatever’s published on GOV.UK on the date your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is assigned, not what a guide (including this one) said last month.
The Going Rate, Explained Simply
Every eligible occupation has its own SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code, and each code carries a minimum annual salary and, for most roles, a minimum hourly rate too – calculated on a standard 37.5-hour week. If you’re working part-time, your salary is pro-rated from the full-time equivalent, but your hourly rate still has to clear the applicable minimum.
Healthcare and education roles are the main exception: their going rates follow national pay scales (for example, NHS Agenda for Change bands) rather than the general market-rate methodology used for most other jobs.
Practical takeaway: before assuming a job offer is compliant, look up the exact SOC code on your Certificate of Sponsorship against the current GOV.UK going-rates table. A salary that comfortably clears £41,700 can still fail if the going rate for that specific role is higher.
Reduced Salary Thresholds – Who Qualifies for a Discount?
This is the part most relevant to JBR’s community. Several categories of applicant don’t need to meet the full £41,700 general threshold or 100% of the going rate. If you fall into one of these groups, you can be paid a reduced percentage of the going rate, as long as you still clear the relevant salary floor.
Recent Graduates, Students, and Under-26s
If any of the following apply to you, you can be paid 70% of the job’s standard going rate, provided your salary is still at least £33,400 per year:
- You’re under 26 on the date you apply
- You’re currently in the UK on a Student visa studying at bachelor’s degree level or above (or you were in the last 2 years, with a Student or visit visa as your most recent visa)
- You’re currently in the UK on a Graduate visa (or you were in the last 2 years, with a Graduate or visit visa as your most recent visa)
- You’ll be working towards a recognised qualification in a UK regulated profession
- You’ll be working towards full registration or chartered status in the sponsored role
This is the pathway that applies to most international students switching from a Student or Graduate visa into sponsored employment. There’s an important trade-off: your total stay in the UK on this basis is capped at 4 years, counting any time already spent on a Graduate visa. After that, you’ll need to move onto the standard salary rules to continue on the route.
PhD Holders
If your job qualifies for a PhD salary discount and your qualification is relevant to the role:
- STEM PhD (science, technology, engineering, maths): pay can be 80% of the going rate, as long as it’s still at least £33,400 per year
- Non-STEM PhD: pay can be 90% of the going rate, as long as it’s still at least £37,500 per year
You’ll need a UK PhD or an overseas equivalent confirmed through Ecctis, and your employer needs to confirm the qualification is relevant to the sponsored job. Not every occupation is eligible for this discount – check the official list of jobs that qualify before assuming it applies.
Postdoctoral Researchers
If you’re working in a postdoctoral position in a qualifying science or higher education occupation code, you can be paid 70% of the going rate. This applies to a defined list of SOC codes (chemical, biological, biochemical, physical, and social/humanities scientists, unspecified researchers, and higher education teaching professionals). As with the graduate route, total time in the UK under this basis is capped at 4 years, including any prior Graduate visa time.
Jobs on the Immigration Salary List (ISL)
If your occupation appears on the Immigration Salary List, the minimum salary is £33,400 per year – but you must still meet the standard going rate for that occupation. Being on the ISL also comes with a reduced visa application fee. The ISL is scheduled to be phased out, with roles gradually shifting to a Temporary Shortage List (TSL) framework, so check whether your specific occupation is still listed before relying on this route.
The RQF Level 6 Skill Requirement
Since 22 July 2025, most new Skilled Worker roles must sit at RQF Level 6 or above – broadly equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree – up from the previous RQF Level 3 minimum. This tightened who can be sponsored at all, independent of salary. A limited number of roles below RQF Level 6 remain sponsorable only through shortage-list arrangements, and these typically don’t allow the worker to bring dependants. If you already held a Certificate of Sponsorship or a live application before that date, transitional protections may apply to your extension or employer change – this is worth checking individually rather than assuming.
What Actually Counts Toward Your Salary?
Not everything on a payslip counts. As a general rule:
- Guaranteed gross basic pay counts
- Discretionary or performance-related bonuses generally don’t count towards the threshold
- Any deductions the employer takes back from you (for example, clawing back visa or relocation costs outside a recognised salary-sacrifice scheme) reduce your counted salary
- Allowances tied to a specific cost (like a one-off relocation payment) usually don’t count as ongoing salary
If your offer letter includes bonuses or allowances as part of how your employer is presenting the “package,” ask specifically what the guaranteed gross basic salary is – that’s the figure that gets tested against the threshold.
Common Mistakes International Students Make
- Assuming the £41,700 headline figure is the only number that matters. The going rate for your specific SOC code can be higher.
- Not checking whether the reduced graduate/student threshold applies. Many international students under 26 or coming off a Graduate visa are eligible for the 70%-of-going-rate route and don’t realise it – this can make an otherwise borderline offer compliant.
- Forgetting the 4-year cap that comes with the reduced-threshold routes. It’s a real limitation to factor into longer-term settlement planning.
- Relying on a job advert’s salary rather than the actual Certificate of Sponsorship figure, which is what the Home Office checks.
- Using outdated figures. The general threshold rose from £38,700 to £41,700 in July 2025 – older articles and even some paid guides still quote the previous figure.
How to Check If Your Offer Meets the Threshold
Confirm the figures directly on GOV.UK before treating any number – including the ones in this article – as final.
Find the SOC code on your Certificate of Sponsorship (or ask your prospective employer for it).
Look up that code in the current GOV.UK going-rates table.
Compare your guaranteed gross basic salary against both the general threshold (or your applicable reduced threshold) and the going rate – you need to clear whichever is higher.
If you’re under 26, a recent graduate, on a Graduate visa, or hold a relevant PhD, check whether a reduced percentage applies to you specifically.
FAQ
Is the Skilled Worker visa salary threshold the same for everyone? No. £41,700 is the general threshold, but the going rate for your specific occupation can be higher, and several groups – including recent graduates, students under 26, and PhD holders – qualify for a reduced percentage of the going rate instead.
Can I use a Graduate visa to meet the reduced salary threshold? Yes. If you’re currently on a Graduate visa, or were in the last 2 years with a Graduate or visit visa as your most recent visa, you can be paid 70% of your job’s going rate, provided it’s still at least £33,400 a year.
What’s the minimum salary for a recent graduate on a Skilled Worker visa? At least £33,400 per year, and at least 70% of the going rate for the specific occupation – whichever of those two figures is higher.
Does the reduced graduate threshold last forever? No. Time spent in the UK under the reduced-threshold routes (including any prior Graduate visa time) is capped at a combined total of 4 years.
Do bonuses count towards the salary threshold? Generally no. The Home Office looks at guaranteed gross basic salary, not discretionary bonuses or one-off allowances.
Where can I check the exact going rate for my job? On GOV.UK’s Skilled Worker visa going-rates table, searchable by SOC code – this is the only figure that’s legally binding on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
This article explains the general position as understood from GOV.UK guidance current as of 25 August 2026. It isn’t immigration advice. Visa rules change frequently – always verify your specific situation against the current rules on GOV.UK or with a qualified immigration adviser before making decisions.
