UK Visa Guide · 2026
What are the UK Skilled Worker visa salary thresholds in 2026?
Who it's for
Anyone applying for or sponsoring under the Skilled Worker visa route — both candidates assessing whether their offer meets requirements, and employers checking sponsorship eligibility for new hires.
Eligibility requirements
Salary must meet BOTH (a) the general threshold for your circumstances AND (b) the going rate for your specific SOC 2020 occupation code. Salary must be paid in cash (not benefits-in-kind), be guaranteed (not target/bonus dependent), and be paid for the hours worked. Allowances and bonuses generally don't count unless 'guaranteed for the lifetime of the visa' (very rare).
Application process
1) Identify your SOC 2020 occupation code (4-digit code matching your role). 2) Find the corresponding going rate on the Home Office Skilled Worker occupations list. 3) Compare to general threshold (£38,700, or relevant discount). 4) Use the HIGHER of the two as your minimum salary. 5) Confirm sponsor will pay at least this amount in guaranteed annual cash salary. 6) Document the salary structure clearly in the offer letter for visa application.
Costs and timings
No additional cost for threshold compliance — but salary itself must be at compliant level for the entire visa duration. Failure to maintain salary triggers visa cancellation. Sponsor reporting duties: must report to Home Office within 10 working days if salary drops below threshold or going rate.
Common reasons for refusal
1) Salary calculations including non-guaranteed elements (bonus, commission, equity). 2) Going rate not checked — falls below SOC 2020 floor. 3) Salary based on more than 48 hours/week (must be calculated against standard working week). 4) Allowances (London weighting, on-call) treated as base when only base counts. 5) Reduced hours for same salary breaching going rate. 6) Salary frozen during visa term while threshold rises (need to ensure indexation).
Worked example
Asha was offered £42,000 for a graphic designer role (SOC 3421). She thought this met the general threshold. However the going rate for graphic designers is £29,500 — below £42,000, so general threshold of £38,700 was the floor. She was fine. By contrast Rahul was offered £38,700 for a software engineer role (SOC 2136); the going rate for software engineers was £49,400 — meaning his offer was below the going rate floor. He renegotiated to £49,500 to meet the going-rate threshold.
Recruiter pro tip
Always check the going rate FIRST, not the general threshold. Senior tech and finance roles often have going rates of £55,000+ — much higher than the £38,700 general threshold. The going rate is the binding floor for those roles. Conversely, junior roles in lower-paying occupations may have going rates below £38,700, in which case the general threshold applies. Both must be checked for your specific occupation code.
Important: UK immigration rules and salary thresholds change frequently. Always verify current rates and rules at gov.uk before applying. For complex cases, consult a qualified UK immigration solicitor (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or OISC). This guide is for general information only, not legal advice.
Related visa guides
How does the UK Skilled Worker Visa work in 2026?
The UK Skilled Worker Visa is the main work route for non-UK nationals. To qualify in 2026: (1) you need a job…
How do UK employers sponsor visas?
UK employers wanting to sponsor non-UK workers must hold a sponsor licence from the Home Office. The licence a…
How do I switch between UK visa routes?
Switching routes (e.g., Student to Skilled Worker, Graduate to Skilled Worker, Skilled Worker to Innovator Fou…
Related across UK Rights & Guides