Skilled Worker · 7 min read
UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold 2026: Complete Guide
Current Skilled Worker salary thresholds for 2026 — general threshold, new entrant rate, going rates, and the April 2026 pay period compliance change explained.
The Skilled Worker visa salary requirements changed significantly between April 2024 and April 2026. This guide covers every threshold currently in force — the general minimum, the new entrant rate, the going rates by occupation, and the April 2026 pay period compliance change that caught many sponsors off guard.
Current salary thresholds (from July 2025)
| Category | Minimum salary | Hourly floor |
|---|---|---|
| General threshold | £41,700/year | £17.13/hour |
| New entrant | £33,400/year | £13.73/hour |
| Immigration Salary List (ISL) roles | £33,400/year or 80% of going rate, whichever is higher | — |
| NHS Agenda for Change roles | £25,000/year | £12.82/hour |
| PhD-level STEM roles | £33,400/year | — |
Who counts as a new entrant?
The new entrant rate of £33,400 applies if you meet any of these conditions at the time of application:
- You are currently on a Student visa or Graduate visa
- You have been on a Student or Graduate visa within the last 2 years
- You are working towards a recognised professional qualification that requires a period of training (medicine, dentistry, law, accountancy)
- You are under 26 years old
The new entrant rate can only be used for the first 3 years of employment on the Skilled Worker route. After that, the general threshold applies.
Going rates — why they matter
Every Skilled Worker visa application must meet both the general salary threshold AND the going rate for the specific Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code assigned to the role. Whichever is higher applies.
For example, if the going rate for software engineers on SOC code 2135 is £45,000, an applicant in that role must be paid at least £45,000 — not just the general £41,700 threshold. The going rates are published in Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK and are updated periodically.
The April 2026 pay period compliance change
From 8 April 2026, the Home Office changed how it assesses salary compliance. Previously, UKVI checked whether the annual salary on the CoS met the threshold. From April 2026, salary must meet the threshold in every individual pay period — not just on an annualised basis.
This matters most for workers with variable pay — commission-based roles, overtime-heavy roles, or roles where bonus payments make up a significant portion of total compensation. If a worker's base salary is £38,000 but their total compensation including commission averages £42,000, they may not meet the threshold under the new rules unless the base salary alone meets it.
Sponsors should review any sponsored workers with variable pay structures to confirm compliance under the new framework before their next visa extension.
What counts towards salary
- Counts: Guaranteed base salary, London weighting (for roles outside London where it is guaranteed), shift allowances where contractually guaranteed
- Does not count: Discretionary bonuses, commission payments, overtime pay, expense reimbursements, employer pension contributions
Deductions from salary — for accommodation provided by the employer, business costs, or immigration fees — reduce the net salary for threshold purposes. Employers cannot legally recover CoS fees, sponsor licence fees, or the Immigration Skills Charge from sponsored workers.
Preparing your documents
Proving salary for a Skilled Worker visa requires payslips covering the correct period and bank statements showing the matching credits. VisaVault's Skilled Worker visa checklist covers the exact documents needed for your specific circumstances.
Last verified against GOV.UK: May 2026. Salary thresholds effective from July 2025. Pay period compliance rules effective from April 2026.
VisaVault is a document preparation service, not an immigration adviser or solicitor. This article is based on current UKVI published guidance and is intended for general information only. Requirements change without notice. Always verify current requirements on GOV.UK before submitting your application.