Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary UK from 22 July 2025

There is no fixed minimum salary for Skilled Worker visa UK applications. Instead, the minimum depends on:

• The applicable salary option under Appendix Skilled Worker (A to K)
   
• The SOC code and associated going rate
   
• Whether transitional or discounted thresholds apply
   
• The applicant’s working hours (capped at 48 per week for salary assessments)

Each case must meet the higher of:

• The cash salary floor for the applicable salary option
   
• The required percentage of the going rate for the SOC code
   
• A new hourly rate floor of £17.13 (where applicable), based on a 48-hour maximum week

Incorrectly applying these rules can result in refusal of the application or sponsor compliance action.

Before calculating the correct Skilled Worker visa minimum salary, sponsors must determine which table the role falls under in Appendix Skilled Occupations. The table assignment affects the salary threshold, discount eligibility, going rate calculations, and whether the £17.13/hour floor applies.

Table 1 – Graduate-Level Roles (Standard Skilled Worker Occupations)

This table includes most RQF Level 6 roles across business, tech, engineering, and other professional sectors.

• Going rates assume a 37.5-hour week.
• Roles are eligible for salary discounts under Options A–E (PhD, ISL, new entrant).
• The £17.13/hour floor does apply.

Table 2 – Health and Care Roles or Transitional Continuing Employment

Table 2 contains health and social care jobs, as well as certain roles eligible under transitional rules (e.g. sub-degree RQF 3–5 roles sponsored before 22 July 2025).

• Going rates also use a 37.5-hour baseline.
• Roles use the Health and Care salary structure and are eligible for discounts under Options F–J.
• The £17.13/hour rule does not apply, except for care workers (SOC 6135/6136) under transitional rules.

Table 3 – Medical and Education Roles with Alternate Weekly Hours

This table covers specific occupations—such as hospital doctors and dentists—with atypical working patterns.

• Going rates are based on a 40-hour week (not 37.5).
• Roles follow standard Option A–E salary rules.
• The £17.13/hour floor does apply.

The Skilled Worker route uses a points-based system, where 20 tradeable points are awarded if one of the following options is met.

Graduate-Level Roles (Table 1 – Standard SOC Codes)
 

Health and Care or Continuing Employment (Table 2)
 

Note: Roles under care worker SOC codes 6135 and 6136 (now closed to new overseas applicants) must still meet £25,000 or £12.82/hour, whichever is higher.

The £17.13 hourly floor applies to Options A–E and is calculated using no more than 48 paid hours per week.
 

• Example: £17.13 × 48 × 52 = £42,722.88
   
• If a discounted rate (e.g. Option E) produces a lower salary, the hourly floor overrides it.
   
• This rule does not apply to Options F–K, except care worker roles.

The cash thresholds (e.g. £41,700 for Option A) must be met in full, even for part-time jobs. Only the going rate may be pro-rated if weekly hours differ from the standard (usually 37.5 hours per week).

Example: A job with a 30-hour week must still offer a full £41,700 salary (Option A), even if the going rate is scaled down.

Sponsors must use the following five official sources to identify salary requirements:

• Appendix Skilled Worker – Lists threshold options and tradeable points
   
• Appendix Skilled Occupations – Lists eligible SOC codes and applicable tables
   
• Going Rates Table – Provides annual and hourly going rates for each SOC code
   
• Sponsor Guidance – Clarifies pro-rating rules and what counts toward salary
   
• Statement of Changes HC 997 – Legal source of the 2025 salary changes
   

These documents are available on GOV.UK and must be used together.

1. Identify the SOC code from the occupation code list using the job description. Use the CASCOT tool if needed.
   
    
2. Check which table (1, 2, or 3) the role sits in.
   
    
3. Apply the correct option (A–K) and check both:

• The cash floor (e.g. £33,400, £25,000)
• The correct % of the going rate (e.g. 70%, 80%, 100%)
   

 4. If in Options A–E, confirm the salary also meets £17.13/hour × 48 hours.
 

 5. Confirm the contractual hours and weekly pay reflect the above.

Countable:

• Guaranteed gross PAYE salary
• Fixed allowances (e.g. London weighting), if permanent, paid for the full duration, and available to settled workers
• Guaranteed shift premia
   

Not countable:

• Overtime
• Bonuses
• Tips
• Commission
• Employer pension contributions
• Accommodation
• Shares or options
• Any amount the worker repays to the sponsor (e.g. visa fees)

From 9 April 2025, repayments must be deducted from gross pay, unless under a genuine salary-sacrifice scheme unrelated to immigration.

1. New Entrants

Eligible if:

• Under 26 on date of application
• Switching from Student or Graduate route
• Within 2 years of UK degree
• Doing postdoc research
• Working toward chartered registration

Cap: Maximum 4 years in new entrant roles. After this, full thresholds must be met.

2. PhD Holders

• STEM: 80% of going rate, min £33,400
• Non-STEM: 90% of going rate, min £37,500

Sponsor must confirm relevance. ECCTIS verification required for non-UK PhDs.

3. Postdoc Researchers

SOC codes 2113 and 2114 may be paid:

• £33,400 (Table 1) or
• £25,000 (Table 2)

At 70% of going rate, if genuinely postdoctoral.

4. ISL Roles

Must meet:

• £33,400 and 100% of standard going rate (Table 1–3)
• £25,000 and 100% of lower going rate (Table 2)

No additional discounts allowed. ISL roles also benefit from reduced visa fees and a lower Immigration Health Surcharge.

• Use the CASCOT tool and match the job to the closest code in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
   
• Do not fabricate a match to reach eligibility — this can result in licence suspension.
   
• The Home Office will assess if the SOC matches the job description.
   
• Ensure codes comply with SOC 2020, the updated classification as of April 2024.