UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Calculator
Check whether a salary meets the dual-test compliance framework: general threshold AND occupation-specific going rate. Covers all 11 salary options (A-K) under the current rules introduced on 22 July 2025.
Current Salary Rules
- General threshold increased: Standard route now £41,700 (up from £38,700)
- RQF 6+ required: Only graduate-level occupations eligible for standard sponsorship
- Hourly floor £17.13: Standard route options A-E enforce minimum hourly rate
- Non-combinable discounts: Only ONE salary option per application (stacking = refusal)
- ISL threshold only: Immigration Salary List reduces threshold, NOT going rate
- Option K: Listed health and education occupations in Tables 3-5 use the applicable national pay scale with a £25,000 threshold
- English evidence update (7 Aug 2026): GOV.UK clarified how a degree taught in English can be evidenced
- Pay-period compliance (8 Apr 2026): New rule SW 14.3B requires the salary to be met in every pay period, not just annually. Monthly pay: any 3-month period must total at least a quarter of the required annual salary; more frequent pay: any 12-week period must total at least 12/52; uneven hours: assessed over 17 weeks
Understanding the Dual-Test Salary Framework
Every UK Skilled Worker visa application must pass a dual salary test: the offered salary must meet both a general cash threshold AND an occupation-specific going rate requirement. The higher of these two figures determines the minimum compliant salary.
The current framework provides 11 salary options (A-K) across three route categories. Standard Route options (A-E) cover RQF 6+ professional occupations with a £17.13 hourly floor. Health and Care options (F-J) serve Table 2 occupations with lower thresholds and no hourly floor. Option K covers listed health and education occupations in Tables 3-5 using national pay scales. Discounts range from 10% (PhD non-STEM) to 30% (New Entrant) on the going rate, but only one discount can be applied per application.
Standard Route (Options A-E) - Table 1 Occupations
| Option | Threshold | Going Rate % | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | £41,700 | 100% | Standard experienced worker baseline |
| B | £37,500 | 90% | Relevant PhD (non-STEM) - 10% discount |
| C | £33,400 | 80% | STEM PhD, researcher, or inventor - 20% discount |
| D | £33,400 | 100% | ISL role - threshold reduction only (no going rate discount) |
| E | £33,400 | 70% | New entrant - maximum 30% discount, 4-year cap |
All Standard Route options enforce a £17.13/hour floor with 48-hour weekly cap.
Health & Care Route (Options F-J) - Table 2 Occupations
| Option | Threshold | Going Rate % | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | £31,300 | 100% | Standard Health & Care baseline |
| G | £28,200 | 90% | Health & Care with relevant PhD (non-STEM) |
| H | £25,000 | 80% | Health & Care with STEM PhD |
| I | £25,000 | 100% | Health & Care ISL (threshold only) |
| J | £25,000 | 70% | Health & Care New Entrant - 4-year cap |
Health & Care options have no hourly floor. Lower going rates from sector-specific ASHE data.
Listed Health and Education Route (Option K) - Tables 3-5
| Option | Threshold | Going Rate | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| K | £25,000 | 100% national pay scale | Listed health or education occupation; use the applicable nation and pay band |
There is no single generic Option K going rate. Check the exact occupation, nation and pay band in Appendix Skilled Occupations Tables 3-5.
How Pro-Rating Works for Part-Time
The going rate is based on a 37.5-hour reference week. For part-time roles, the going rate is pro-rated down, but the general threshold stays fixed. This creates a "threshold cliff effect" where part-time work dramatically increases the effective hourly requirement.
Discounted going rate = Pro-rated going rate x Option percentage
Minimum required = MAX(General threshold, Discounted going rate)
| Weekly Hours | Going Rate (70%) | Threshold | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37.5 (full-time) | £38,290 | £33,400 | Going rate |
| 30 | £30,632 | £33,400 | Threshold |
| 20 | £20,421 | £33,400 | Threshold |
Example uses SOC 2134 (Programmers and software development professionals, £54,700 going rate) under Option E (New Entrant, 70%).
Non-Combinable Discounts
Attempting to stack multiple discount options results in automatic refusal:
- New Entrant + PhD = Refusal
- New Entrant + ISL = Refusal
- PhD + ISL = Refusal
Select the single most advantageous eligible option for your situation.
Official Government Sources
This information is for guidance only and reflects the current published salary tables plus the pay-period compliance rules introduced on 8 April 2026 (SW 14.3B). Tables 1-2 use published occupation rates at 37.5 reference hours; Tables 3-5 use national pay scales and may vary by nation and pay band. Discounts are non-combinable. Always refer to the official Appendix Skilled Occupations for definitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Skilled Worker salary thresholds and going rates.
What is the minimum Skilled Worker salary?
The general threshold is £41,700 per year (or £17.13 per hour) for standard experienced workers, set on 22 July 2025 and still in force for 2026. Your salary must also meet or exceed the SOC 2020 going rate for the specific occupation code - whichever is higher.
How is the going rate calculated?
The current occupation rates are published in Appendix Skilled Occupations. Tables 1-2 use 37.5 reference hours and are pro-rated for different hours; Tables 3-5 use the applicable national pay scale.
Which salary applies if my hours are less than 37.5 per week?
The going rate is pro-rated to 37.5 hours/week by default. If you work fewer hours, the going rate is reduced proportionally - but the general minimum salary and hourly floor (£17.13/hr) still apply and cannot be pro-rated below.
What discounts reduce my salary threshold?
Lower thresholds apply for new entrants (under 26 / recent graduates), PhD holders, health and care roles, listed health and education roles under Option K, and roles on the Immigration Salary List. Discounts cannot be combined. TSL sponsorship provisions are time-limited and do not create a reduced visa-fee tier.
Does overtime, bonus or commission count toward the salary?
No. The Home Office only counts guaranteed basic gross pay - overtime, bonus, commission, tips, allowances, shift premiums and benefits-in-kind are excluded from the threshold calculation.
What happens if my salary drops after the visa is granted?
The sponsor must report any salary reduction to the Home Office within 10 working days via the Sponsor Management System. If the new salary falls below either the general threshold or the going rate, the Certificate of Sponsorship becomes invalid and the worker may need to change employer or leave the UK.
Check Your Salary Compliance
Use our interactive calculator to verify whether a salary meets both the general threshold and occupation-specific going rate under the current immigration rules.
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