As of 2025, the Shortage Occupation List UK has been replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL). The new list affects salary thresholds, visa eligibility, and employer sponsorship requirements. This guide will cover everything employers and workers need to know about hiring under the Skilled Worker visa, salary thresholds, and how the ISL impacts UK work visas.
What is the Immigration Salary List (ISL)?
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) is the updated version of the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), determining which occupations in the UK are eligible for salary discounts under the Skilled Worker visa scheme.
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) is a new system introduced by the UK Home Office to address labor shortages in specific sectors and regions. Unlike the previous Shortage Occupation List (SOL), which focused on specific roles, the ISL sets salary thresholds based on broader job categories and regional labor market needs.
The ISL is designed to help employers sponsor skilled workers from outside the UK while ensuring fair wages and compliance with immigration laws.
Under the ISL, employers no longer receive a discount on the visa application fee, but roles on the list still qualify for a lower salary threshold.
For an occupation to be included in the ISL, the following must be demonstrated:
- A significant shortage of workers in the UK labour market
- The shortage is likely to persist without immigration support
- Salary levels and working conditions are not being undercut
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) continues to advise on updates to the Immigration Salary List, making recommendations on which occupations should be added or removed.
Key Changes Introduced in the Immigration Salary List
1. Replacement of the Shortage Occupation List (SOL)
The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) has been replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL).
The ISL no longer provides occupation-specific discounts (e.g., 80% of the going rate) but instead focuses on regional salary thresholds and sector-specific adjustments.
2. Salary Thresholds
The general salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa has increased to £38,700 per year or £15.88 per hour.
The ISL introduces regional variations, allowing lower thresholds in areas with acute labor shortages.
3. Job Categories
The ISL organizes roles into broader job categories, such as Healthcare, STEM, Education, and Creative Industries.
Employers must refer to these categories to determine the applicable salary thresholds.
How Does the Immigration Salary List Affect Salary Thresholds?
Under the Skilled Worker visa UK, employers must pay migrant workers at least the general salary threshold or the role’s “going rate”, whichever is higher. Jobs on the ISL UK 2025 benefit from lower minimum salary thresholds.
New Salary Thresholds for Skilled Worker Visa 2025
| Category | 2025 Salary |
| General Salary Threshold | £38,700 |
| New Entrant Skilled Worker Salary | £30,960 |
| ISL Salary Discount (80% of Going Rate) | £30,960 |
These new thresholds apply to all new applications from April 2024. Workers who applied before this date may still be subject to previous salary thresholds under Skilled Worker guidance.
Employers must also pay the Immigration Skills Charge and assign a Certificate of Sponsorship UK to any sponsored worker.
Immigration Salary List 2025
| Occupation code | Job types included on the immigration salary list | Areas of the UK which qualify | Standard Rate | Lower rate |
| 1212 | Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services – only “fishing boat masters” | Scotland only | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £25,200 (£12.92 per hour) |
| 2111 | Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry | Scotland only | £35,200 (£18.05 per hour) | £29,600 (£15.18 per hour) |
| 2112 | Biological scientists – all jobs | UK wide | £38,000 (£19.49 per hour) | £28,100 (£14.41 per hour) |
| 2115 | Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists | UK wide | £36,400 (£18.67 per hour) | £25,200 (£12.92 per hour) |
| 2142 | Graphic and multimedia designers – all jobs | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £25,100 (£12.87 per hour) |
| 3111 | Laboratory technicians – only jobs requiring 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally. | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £23,200 (£11.90 per hour) |
| 3212 | Pharmaceutical technicians – all jobs | UK wide | £31,700 (£16.26 per hour) | £26,400 (£13.54 per hour) |
| 3411 | Artists – all jobs | Scotland only | £34,100 (£17.49 per hour) | £26,300 (£13.49 per hour) |
| 3414 | Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales). | UK wide | £31,200 (£16.00 per hour) | £30,000 (£15.38 per hour) |
| 3415 | Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras. The orchestra must be a full member of the Association of British Orchestras. | UK wide | £35,300 (£18.10 per hour) | £30,400 (£15.59 per hour) |
| 3416 | Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs | UK wide | £37,500 (£19.23 per hour) | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) |
| 5119 | Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified – only jobs in the fishing industry | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £23,200 (£11.90 per hour) |
| 5213 | Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally. | UK wide | £31,700 (£16.26 per hour) | £26,400 (£13.54 per hour) |
| 5235 | Boat and ship builders and repairers – all jobs | Scotland only | £34,100 (£17.49 per hour) | £26,300 (£13.49 per hour) |
| 5312 | Stonemasons and related trades – all jobs | UK wide | £32,400 (£16.62 per hour) | £26,200 (£13.44 per hour) |
| 5313 | Bricklayers – all jobs | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £25,600 (£13.13 per hour) |
| 5314 | Roofers, roof tilers and slaters – all jobs | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £23,200 (£11.90 per hour) |
| 5316 | Carpenters and joiners – all jobs | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £25,200 (£12.92 per hour) |
| 5319 | Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only retrofitters | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £25,500 (£13.08 per hour) |
| 6135 | Care workers and home carers – all jobs, except jobs with a working location in England are only eligible in this SOC 2020 occupation code where the sponsor holds registration with the Care Quality Commission and is currently carrying on a regulated activity. Private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants. | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £23,200 (£11.90 per hour) |
| 6136 | Senior care workers – all jobs, except jobs with a working location in England are only eligible in this SOC 2020 occupation code where the sponsor holds registration with the Care Quality Commission and is currently carrying on a regulated activity. | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £23,200 (£11.90 per hour) |
| 6129 | Animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified – only racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £23,200 (£11.90 per hour) |
| 9119 | Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified – only deckhands on large fishing vessels (9 metres and above) where the job requires the worker to have at least 3 years’ full-time experience in using their skills. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally. | UK wide | £30,960 (£15.88 per hour) | £23,200 (£11.90 per hour) |
How to Use the UK Immigration Salary List
Similar to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), the Immigration Salary List (ISL) identifies roles where UK employers face challenges in finding suitable local talent, making immigration a practical solution to address these shortages. Roles are added to the ISL only if they meet specific criteria: they must require skilled workers, demonstrate a genuine shortage of resident workers, and justify immigration as a viable short-term solution under the Skilled Worker visa route.
The UK government emphasises that no sector should depend indefinitely on immigration. Roles included on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) are not intended to remain there permanently. Positions are typically added only if they significantly benefit from the reduced salary thresholds and if offering this discount to employers is deemed reasonable. Importantly, the reduced thresholds must not negatively impact wages or hinder efforts to recruit local workers. Additionally, sectors proposing roles for the ISL may need to demonstrate a clear, sustainable strategy for addressing labor shortages once the role is removed from the list.
Employers must also ensure compliance with sponsor duties and compliance, including conducting right to work checks and issuing a valid certificate of sponsorship UK (CoS). Failure to meet these requirements could result in a sponsor licence suspended or revoked sponsor licence list inclusion.
How Can Nation.better Help You?
At Nation.Better, we specialise in simplifying the immigration process for employers and employees. Our services include:
- Sponsor Licence Applications: We guide businesses through the process of obtaining a sponsor visa UK, ensuring compliance with sponsor duties and compliance.
- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): We help employers issue certificate of sponsorship UK (CoS) so your candidates can apply for a Skilled Worker visa.
- Skilled Worker Visa Applications: Our platform streamlines the Skilled Worker visa application process, from document preparation to submission.
- Compliance Support: We offer tools and advice to help businesses stay compliant with immigration salary list uk requirements and other sponsor duties and avoid penalties like a sponsor licence suspended or revoked sponsor licence.
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