TL;DR
The UK Skilled Worker minimum salary rose from £26,200 to £38,700 on 4 April 2024 — the largest single increase in the route's history. New-entrant reduced rate of £30,960 applies for first 4 years for graduates and switchers from Graduate visa. Going rate for the SOC code applies if higher. Future threshold rises are likely.
The April 2024 increase
On 4 April 2024 the Home Office implemented:
- General minimum salary: £26,200 → £38,700 (+47%)
- New-entrant minimum: £20,960 → £30,960 (kept proportionate)
- Care worker minimum: separate £29,000 with specific conditions (largely unaffected)
- Going-rate calculation method: updated to use 25th percentile of UK median earnings instead of 25th percentile of role-specific median
The change was presented as bringing the threshold in line with median UK earnings (around £33,000 at the time) plus a margin to ensure Skilled Worker visas are genuinely "skilled" rather than supplementing low-pay roles.
How thresholds work
A Skilled Worker visa requires:
- Salary at or above the general minimum for your visa type (£38,700 standard, £30,960 new entrant, etc.)
- Salary at or above the going rate for your occupation under the SOC code
The higher of the two applies. For many roles the going rate is significantly higher than the general minimum.
Example for a Software Engineer (SOC 2136):
- General minimum: £38,700
- Going rate: £49,400
- Required: £49,400 (going rate wins)
Example for a Care Worker (SOC 6135):
- General minimum (with care exception): £29,000
- Going rate: £25,000
- Required: £29,000 (general minimum wins)
New-entrant rate
The new-entrant reduced minimum of £30,960 applies if any of these are true:
- You're under 26
- You're switching from Student or Graduate visa
- You're at the start of your professional career (within 4 years of qualifying)
- You're applying for a role that requires a postdoctoral position
Validity: 4 years on the new-entrant rate. After 4 years, the standard threshold applies at extension or new application.
Immigration Salary List
Roles on the Home Office's Immigration Salary List (replacing the older Shortage Occupation List concept) qualify for:
- 80% of the going rate
- Reduced application fees on visas over 3 years (£1,084 instead of £1,500)
- Same IHS as standard route
The list is reviewed periodically. Currently includes specific healthcare roles, some engineering specialisms, and a small number of skilled trade categories.
What's coming
The Home Office reviews salary thresholds with each annual immigration policy statement. Likely directions:
- Inflation-linked increases to maintain proportionate gap between threshold and median earnings
- SOC code reviews as job market shifts
- New-entrant rate adjustments to maintain the gap from standard threshold
- Care sector specific routes continuing to evolve in response to NHS workforce needs
No firm announcement of further threshold changes for 2026-2027 as of May 2026.
Impact on different applicants
Tech / finance / consulting
Most senior tech and finance roles already pay well above £38,700 — minimum threshold not the binding constraint. Going rate for the SOC code is the more relevant figure (often £45,000-£60,000+ for mid-senior roles).
Mid-skilled professional services
Account managers, marketing managers, project managers in mid-size firms — many roles around the £38,700 threshold. Some London roles qualify; many regional roles require salary uplift to qualify.
Care sector
The £29,000 care worker minimum applies — significantly lower than general threshold. This route remains accessible.
Engineers, scientists in specific specialisms
Going rates often well above general minimum. Apply with confidence.
Service sector / hospitality
Most roles below threshold. Skilled Worker is not the right route for many of these workers — alternatives include the (now-defunct) UK Youth Mobility Scheme or seasonal worker routes for specific sectors.
What to do practically
If you're job-hunting
- Confirm the SOC code for the role you're discussing
- Check the going rate for that SOC code on gov.uk
- Negotiate to ensure salary meets both general minimum and going rate
- For new-entrant roles, confirm with the employer that the salary meets £30,960
If you have a job offer
- Check the salary on your CoS once issued
- If it's below the applicable threshold, the visa will be refused — flag the issue with HR before applying
- Apply within 3 months of CoS assignment
If you're at extension
- Salary should match the threshold in force at extension
- If you've moved roles within the same sponsor, check the new SOC code's going rate
- Sponsor compliance reviews can affect existing CoS — stay close to your HR/sponsor liaison
Sources
Sources
Common questions
- 01
What's the current Skilled Worker minimum salary?
£38,700 per year from 4 April 2024 (raised from £26,200), or the going rate for your occupation under the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, whichever is higher. Reduced thresholds apply for new entrants (£30,960) and roles on the Immigration Salary List (80% of going rate).
- 02
Will the threshold rise again?
Likely. The Home Office has signalled ongoing review of salary thresholds to align with median UK earnings. No specific increase confirmed for 2026-2027 as of May 2026, but threshold review is expected with each annual immigration statement.
- 03
Does this affect existing Skilled Worker visa holders?
Existing visa holders are not affected by changes for the duration of their current visa. At extension, you'd need to meet the threshold in force at the time of extension — usually the same as your current grant since you're staying with the same role and sponsor.
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