🇬🇧 UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Requirement 2026

Ajay Choudhary
1 day ago
2 min read

To qualify for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026, you must meet the UK government’s minimum salary rules for sponsored workers. These rules were updated in July 2025 and apply to applications made in 2026.

⭐ 1. General Minimum Salary Requirement

£41,700 per year minimum (or higher) for most Skilled Worker roles.
You must be paid at least £41,700 annually OR the going-rate for your specific job role — whichever is higher.

The “going rate” is based on codes in the UK’s Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) and varies by job. If your SOC code’s going rate is higher than £41,700, you must earn that higher amount to qualify.

UK skilled worker visa salary requirement

📉 2. Reduced Salary Thresholds (If Eligible)

Under certain conditions you can be paid less than £41,700, but you still need to meet minimum figures:

🔹 New Entrants (e.g., recent graduates)

Minimum £33,400 per year as a reduced threshold.
This applies if you are a new entrant to the labour market (e.g., recently graduated) and meet specific criteria under the rules.

🔹 PhD Holders

Minimum £37,500 per year if you hold a PhD relevant to the job.
Certain STEM PhD holders may also qualify for a discount, requiring a salary of £33,400 under specific options.

🔹 “Immigration Salary List” or Similar Routes

Some occupations with national pay scales or special lists may have different minimums (e.g., health and care roles).

📊 3. How the Minimum Salary Works (Quick Rules)

Category	Minimum Salary Requirement (2026)
Standard Skilled Worker	£41,700 per year or your job’s going rate
New Entrant (special cases)	£33,400 per year (reduced rate)
PhD relevant to role	£37,500 per year
Immigration Salary List roles	£33,400 per year or higher
Health & care roles (special pay scales)	Usually £25,000+ depending on role and region

UK skilled worker visa salary requirement

📌 Other Important Notes

✔ The requirement is based on basic annual salary — bonuses or allowances usually don’t count.

✔ Employers must confirm the salary on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

✔ These salary rules apply to most new Skilled Worker visa applicants from 22 July 2025 onward — including 2026 applications.

✔ Some workers already in the UK under older Skilled Worker visas may have transitional protections with lower thresholds in certain circumstances.

📌 Example Scenarios

An IT specialist role with a going rate of £50,000 → you must be paid £50,000 (higher than £41,700).
A recent graduate being sponsored for a role → you might qualify at £33,400 if eligible.
A STEM PhD employed in a research position → you could qualify at £33,400–£37,500 depending on exact qualifications and job code.