In 2026 the UK Skilled Worker visa runs two salary floors at the same time: a general minimum that applies to everyone (£41,700 for most applicants) and a SOC-code-specific going rate that reflects what the occupation typically pays in the UK labour market. You have to clear both. This guide explains where each figure comes from, lists the discounts that lower them, and walks through worked examples for common roles.

What changed in the 2026 update

The April 2026 Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules raised most Skilled Worker thresholds in line with ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data published in late 2025. The headline general minimum moved up, several SOC-specific going rates increased sharply (notably in IT and engineering), and the Health & Care Worker discount was retained but its absolute floor rose with inflation.

Three things did not change in 2026:

  • The two-floor design (general minimum + going rate).
  • The list of eligible SOC codes (Appendix Skilled Occupations). Codes added or removed at this annual review are listed in the statement.
  • The new-entrant, PhD, and shortage-occupation discount logic.

The two floors, in plain English

General minimum. A flat floor that applies to every Skilled Worker applicant regardless of job. In 2026 it sits at £41,700 per year for the standard applicant. There is also a per-hour floor of £17.13 that catches part-time gaming.

Going rate. A per-SOC-code rate. For a software developer (SOC 2136) the 2026 going rate is around £49,400. For a chef (SOC 5434) it is around £29,000. For a nurse (SOC 2231) it is around £26,200. Whichever floor is higher is the one you must clear, and the Home Office always applies the higher floor at the visa decision.

Worth knowing: the general minimum is a Home Office policy choice — it can be raised independently of the labour market. The going rate is a data-driven figure — it tracks ONS earnings for that occupation. Politicians can change the first overnight; the second moves on a statistical schedule.

2026 going rates: examples

Use the search box on the home page to look up the going rate for any of the ~600 eligible SOC codes. Approximate rates for popular roles (rounded to the nearest £100):

SOC codeOccupation2026 going rate
2231Nurses£26,200
2211Medical practitioners£84,700
2136Programmers & software development£49,400
2426Business & related research professionals£42,300
2122Mechanical engineers£44,600
5434Chefs£29,000
2421Chartered accountants£42,300
6135Care workers & home carers£25,600

Figures are illustrative and rounded. Always cross-check against the live Appendix Skilled Occupations.

Discounts that lower the floor

Four routes can reduce the salary floor you need to clear. They stack only in limited combinations — read the Rules carefully or get advice from an OISC-regulated adviser.

  • New entrant. If you are under 26, recently completed a UK degree, switching from a Student visa, or working towards a recognised professional qualification, you may qualify for roughly a 30% discount on the going rate (with a minimum floor). Time-limited — usually 4 years.
  • PhD relevant to the job. A 10% discount on the going rate, or 20% if the PhD is in a STEM subject relevant to the role. The PhD must be sufficiently linked to the duties — the sponsor decides and documents this.
  • Shortage / Immigration Salary List. Roles on the Immigration Salary List get the same general-minimum reduction as new entrants, regardless of age. The list is reviewed periodically by the Migration Advisory Committee.
  • Health & Care Worker visa. A separate route (not a discount on Skilled Worker) with its own reduced general minimum, currently around £25,600. Reserved for specific health and social-care SOC codes — see our Health & Care Worker visa guide.

How to check the threshold for your specific job

  1. Pin down the four-digit SOC 2020 code for your role — see the SOC 2020 guide for how to choose the right one.
  2. Look up the going rate for that code on this site or in Appendix Skilled Occupations.
  3. Identify whether any discount applies (new entrant, PhD, ISL, Health & Care). Apply only the most generous — they don’t compound.
  4. Compare the going-rate floor against the discounted general minimum. Pick the higher of the two.
  5. Confirm the offered salary clears that figure, based on a 37.5-hour week. If the role is genuinely part-time, the offered salary still needs to clear the full floor in absolute terms.

Worked examples

Software developer (SOC 2136)

Going rate £49,400 vs general minimum £41,700. The going rate is higher, so the floor is £49,400. No PhD or new-entrant discount — offered salary must be at least £49,400.

Nurse on the Health & Care Worker route (SOC 2231)

Going rate £26,200 vs Health & Care Worker general minimum ~£25,600. The going rate is higher — floor is £26,200. Health & Care Worker route also exempts the applicant from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Recent graduate accepting their first software role (SOC 2136, new entrant)

Going rate £49,400 with a ~30% new-entrant discount → roughly £34,580. New-entrant general minimum is also reduced, say to ~£33,400. Higher of the two = £34,580. Offered salary must clear £34,580.

Chef in a London restaurant (SOC 5434)

Going rate £29,000 vs general minimum £41,700. General minimum wins — floor is £41,700. A chef offered £30,000 cannot be sponsored under standard Skilled Worker rules, even though they clear the going rate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the general minimum salary for the 2026 Skilled Worker visa?
For most applicants in 2026 the general minimum is £41,700 per year. The exact figure depends on whether you qualify for new-entrant, PhD, shortage-occupation, or Health & Care Worker discounts. Whichever floor is highest — the general minimum or the SOC-specific going rate — is the one you must clear.
Is the going rate the same for every job?
No. Each eligible four-digit SOC 2020 code has its own going rate, published in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules. The rate is roughly the 25th percentile of UK earnings for that occupation, derived from ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data.
What if my offered salary is below the threshold?
The visa application is refused. The Home Office checks the salary at the Certificate of Sponsorship stage and again at the visa decision. If the offered salary falls below either the general minimum or the going rate, the sponsor must increase the offer or the application cannot proceed.
Do part-time workers get a pro-rata threshold?
No. The thresholds are based on a 37.5-hour working week. If you work fewer hours, your offered salary still has to clear the full-time threshold in absolute terms — it is not pro-rated downwards.
How often do salary thresholds change?
The Home Office reviews them once a year, usually in the spring. The 2026 figures took effect in April 2026 and replaced the previous schedule. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommends updates based on fresh ONS earnings data; the Home Office accepts or modifies the recommendations and republishes the rules.

Sources and further reading