The Skilled Worker salary rule has two parts: a general minimum, and a role-specific “going rate”. An application must satisfy whichever is higher.
General threshold
Under the Appendix Skilled Worker rules captured in the 22 July 2025 update, the headline general floor is £41,700 per year for Option A applicants. Transitional options, listed health and education roles, Immigration Salary List roles and new entrants can use lower general thresholds, but only where the exact salary option applies.
Going rate
Every eligible role sits in a SOC category and carries a “going rate” — a figure derived from national pay data. If the going rate is higher than the general threshold, the higher figure applies.
For senior technology roles in London the going rate typically exceeds the general floor by a wide margin. For early-career roles in lower-paying sectors, the general floor binds.
Allowances and benefits
Only guaranteed, in-cash salary counts towards the threshold. Bonuses, tips, overtime and equity do not. London weighting, shift allowances and fixed allowances paid through PAYE usually count, but the Home Office scrutinises inclusions and any “salary sacrifice” structures are disqualifying.
New entrants
Applicants under 26, recent graduates and certain professional-body postgraduate trainees may qualify as new entrants for up to four years. The current new-entrant options use lower general thresholds and 70% of the SOC going rate, so the saving is not a flat 20% and the role still has to clear the option’s floor.
Shortage occupations
Where a role is on the current Immigration Salary List (previously Shortage Occupation List), the applicant may use a lower general threshold. The Home Office Immigration Salary List guidance is clear that the discount does not reduce the SOC going rate: the full going rate still has to be met.
Where to look next
For the current year’s figures, always open gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa directly. Our directory does not publish salary data for individual sponsors — use company job pages and ONS data.
Salary interpretation matters for any real application. A regulated adviser can sanity-check the maths before you rely on it.
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