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 rules effective 22 July 2025.
Key Salary Rule Changes (July 2025)
- General threshold increased: Standard route now ยฃ41,700 (up from ยฃ38,700)
- RQF 6+ required: Only graduate-level occupations eligible for standard sponsorship
- Hourly floor ยฃ17.13: 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
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 2026 framework provides 11 salary options (A-K) across three route categories. Standard Route options (A-E) cover RQF 6+ professional occupations with a ยฃ17.13 hourly floor. Health and Care options (F-J) serve Table 2 occupations with lower thresholds and no hourly floor. 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 | ยฃ41,700 | 100% | Standard experienced worker baseline |
| B | ยฃ37,500 | 90% | Relevant PhD (non-STEM) - 10% discount |
| C | ยฃ33,400 | 80% | STEM PhD, researcher, or inventor - 20% discount |
| D | ยฃ33,400 | 100% | ISL role - threshold reduction only (no going rate discount) |
| E | ยฃ33,400 | 70% | New entrant - maximum 30% discount, 4-year cap |
All Standard Route options enforce a ยฃ17.13/hour floor with 48-hour weekly cap.
Health & Care Route (Options F-J) - Table 2 Occupations
| Option | Threshold | Going Rate % | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | ยฃ31,300 | 100% | Standard Health & Care baseline |
| G | ยฃ28,200 | 90% | Health & Care with relevant PhD (non-STEM) |
| H | ยฃ25,000 | 80% | Health & Care with STEM PhD |
| I | ยฃ25,000 | 100% | Health & Care ISL (threshold only) |
| J | ยฃ25,000 | 70% | Health & Care New Entrant - 4-year cap |
Health & Care options have no hourly floor. Lower going rates from sector-specific ASHE data.
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) | ยฃ34,580 | ยฃ33,400 | Going rate |
| 30 | ยฃ27,664 | ยฃ33,400 | Threshold |
| 20 | ยฃ18,443 | ยฃ33,400 | Threshold |
Example uses SOC 2136 (Programmers, ยฃ49,400 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 salary thresholds effective from 22 July 2025. Going rates are based on ASHE 2024 median data and may be updated periodically. Discounts are non-combinable. Always refer to the official Appendix Skilled Occupations for definitive going rate information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Skilled Worker salary thresholds and going rates.
What is the minimum Skilled Worker salary from April 2026?
The general threshold is ยฃ41,700 per year (or ยฃ17.13 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?
Going rates are the 25th percentile of full-time median salaries from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) for each SOC 2020 unit group, pro-rated to 37.5 hours/week. Home Office publishes them in Appendix Skilled Occupations Table 1.
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 (ยฃ17.13/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 (20% going-rate discount, or 10% for non-STEM PhDs), health and education workers, and roles on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Discounts cannot be combined; the applicable threshold is the lowest of the qualifying tiers.
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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