Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold: Current Rules Explained

The skilled worker visa salary threshold is the minimum pay a UK job must offer before an employer can sponsor you. It is not one number. It is a test that compares your offered salary against at least two figures, and the higher one wins. This guide explains how that test works, where to find the official figures on gov.uk, and how to check a job advert before you spend time applying.

Review date and disclaimer: This post reflects gov.uk guidance as it stood after the Skilled Worker rule changes of 22 July 2025. UK immigration rules change often, sometimes with little notice. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm current figures on gov.uk or with a regulated immigration adviser before you make decisions.

How the skilled worker visa salary threshold works

For most applicants, your salary must meet whichever is higher of:

1. The general salary threshold, a single figure set for the whole route.
2. The going rate for your occupation code, a figure that varies by job type.

Your job must also be on the list of eligible occupations and at the required skill level. If the role isn't eligible, the salary doesn't matter.

The headline figures (check before relying on them)

According to the gov.uk page Skilled Worker visa: your job, the figures introduced on 22 July 2025 for new applicants are:

Test	Figure from 22 July 2025	Notes
General salary threshold	£41,700 a year	Standard figure for most applicants
New entrant general threshold	£33,400 a year	Only if you meet the new entrant criteria
Going rate	Varies by occupation code	Published in the going rates table

Some roles have different rules. Certain health and education jobs paid on national pay scales, jobs on the Immigration Salary List, and people who already held Skilled Worker permission before earlier rule changes may be assessed against different figures. Check the gov.uk page for your exact situation rather than assuming the headline number applies to you.

Going rates by occupation

Every eligible job has a four-digit occupation code. The Home Office publishes a going rate for each one in Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes. The full list of codes that can be sponsored is in Skilled Worker visa: eligible occupations.

Going rates are usually based on a 37.5-hour week. If your contract has different hours, the going rate is adjusted to match. This matters: a salary that looks fine on paper can fall short once hours are taken into account.

What counts as salary (and what doesn't)

The threshold is assessed on guaranteed basic gross pay. In general, gov.uk guidance says the following do not count towards it:

• Overtime, unless it is guaranteed and contractual in a way the guidance accepts
• Bonuses, commission and one-off payments
• Allowances such as accommodation, travel or relocation
• Benefits in kind, such as health insurance or a company car

So if an advert says "£38,000 basic plus £6,000 bonus", the figure that matters is usually £38,000. Read the full guidance for edge cases, especially if you work shifts or have regional allowances.

Who counts as a new entrant

The lower new entrant threshold isn't optional. You have to meet one of the criteria set out on gov.uk. These broadly include:

• Being under 26 on the date you apply
• Switching from a Student or Graduate visa in the UK, subject to conditions
• Working towards a recognised UK professional qualification or registration
• Moving into a postdoctoral research role

There is also a time limit on how long you can stay on new entrant rates in total. If you think you qualify, confirm the exact wording on the gov.uk page before you rely on the lower figure in salary conversations.

Worked example: checking a job offer

The numbers below are illustrative only, not real going rates. Use the official table for real calculations.

Scenario: You are 31, applying from outside the UK, and offered a job at £43,000 basic for 37.5 hours a week. The employer tells you the occupation code.

1. General threshold: £43,000 is above £41,700. Pass.
2. Going rate: You look up the code. Suppose the table shows £45,000. Your offer is below it. Fail.
3. Result: The higher figure wins, so the job would not meet the salary requirement unless the pay rises or a different rule applies.

Same scenario, 40-hour week: The going rate is pro-rated upwards for the longer hours, so the gap widens. Hours are easy to overlook, so always ask.

Same scenario, aged 24: You may qualify for new entrant rates, which lowers both the general threshold and the going rate you must meet. Check the current new entrant rules and figures.

A 10-minute checklist before you apply

Use this for any UK job that mentions sponsorship.

1. Is the employer a licensed sponsor? Search the register of licensed sponsors. If the company name isn't there, ask before investing time.
2. What is the likely occupation code? Match the job duties (not just the title) to the eligible occupations list. The employer decides the code, but you can estimate it.
3. Is the code eligible at the required skill level? Some codes were removed or restricted in July 2025.
4. What is the going rate for that code? Look it up in the going rates table.
5. Is the advertised salary basic pay? Strip out bonuses and allowances.
6. What are the hours? Adjust the going rate if they aren't 37.5.
7. Do you qualify for new entrant rates? Only use the lower figures if you meet the criteria.
8. Is the job on the Immigration Salary List? If so, read how that changes the threshold for that role.

If the salary range in an advert straddles the threshold, it's fair to ask the recruiter politely whether the role can be sponsored at a level that meets current Skilled Worker requirements. If you're writing to them, our guide on how to mention visa sponsorship in a cover letter has wording you can adapt.

Once you've shortlisted roles that pass this check, the QuickApplyPilot remote and international jobs tool can help you organise international applications and adapt your CV to a UK job ad. It doesn't check visa eligibility or confirm salary rules, so keep using gov.uk for that part.

Common mistakes that waste applications

Assuming the general threshold is the only test

Many people stop at the general threshold. For lots of professional roles, the going rate is higher, and that's the figure the salary has to clear.

Converting the salary into your home currency first

The test is in pounds sterling. A salary that sounds large in naira, rupees, pesos or shillings tells you nothing about whether it passes. Compare in GBP, then separately think about UK living costs, rent and visa fees.

Stretching your CV to fit a higher-paid code

It can be tempting to describe your experience so it matches a better-paid occupation. Don't. The employer must genuinely assign the right code for the real job, and inaccurate information can create serious problems for both you and the sponsor. Tailor your CV with skills and keywords only where they truthfully describe what you've done.

Trusting offers that sound too easy

Fake sponsorship offers often quote salaries just above the threshold, then ask you to pay for a certificate of sponsorship or "processing". Genuine sponsors cannot pass the cost of the sponsorship certificate on to you. Read our guide to fake visa sponsorship job offer scam signs before you send money or documents to anyone.

Where this fits in your job search

The salary threshold is a filter, not a strategy. It tells you which jobs are worth applying for, but it doesn't make an employer more likely to sponsor you. Meeting it is necessary; it is not sufficient, and no guide or tool can guarantee a visa or an offer.

A sensible order is:

• Identify occupations where your genuine experience fits an eligible code
• Check typical going rates for those codes so you know your realistic floor
• Search for roles with licensed sponsors that advertise pay at or above that floor
• Tailor your CV and application honestly for each one

For the full process, from finding sponsors to preparing documents, see how to apply for jobs with visa sponsorship, step by step.

Finally, bookmark the official pages and check them again before you accept any offer. Thresholds have changed several times in recent years, and the figure that applies to you is the one in force on the date your application is assessed, not the one in this post.