Salary requirements
Skilled Worker salary requirements explained
For most new Skilled Worker applications, the salary test is not one single number. You normally need to meet both the general salary threshold and the going rate for the occupation.
Last reviewed 21 October 2026
Key points
- The usual standard salary threshold is £41,700 a year.
- You must also meet the relevant going rate for the occupation where it is higher.
- Different rules can apply to some healthcare and education jobs.
- Different rules can also apply to the Immigration Salary List and certain transitional cases.
The standard rule
GOV.UK says that you will usually need to be paid at least £41,700 a year or the going rate for your job, whichever is higher.
This means a salary above £41,700 can still be too low if the occupation going rate is higher.
When different salary rules can apply
Different salary rules can apply in some healthcare and education occupations, where national pay scales are used. The Immigration Salary List can also affect the minimum salary rules.
People who first received a qualifying Tier 2 or Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship before 4 April 2024 and have continuously held relevant permission can also fall under transitional salary rules.
How to check a vacancy
Start with the occupation code, then find the applicable going rate, then compare it with the advertised salary and any special rule that applies to the role.
Do not rely on the job title alone. Similar titles can fall under different occupation codes and different salary rules.
Official sources
Rules and public datasets can change. Use the official source when making a current decision.