· NextMigrate Team
Skilled Worker Salary Threshold 2026: How to Find Your Going Rate
Imagine you are a data engineer in Bengaluru. A London company offers you £45,000. That is above the £41,700 figure you saw online, so you relax. Then the HR team says the offer "does not meet the going rate" for your job code. How can £45,000 be too low when the threshold is £41,700?
The short answer: As of November 2026, a new Skilled Worker usually needs a salary of at least £41,700 a year, or the "going rate" for their 4-digit occupation code, whichever is higher (GOV.UK, November 2026). Every code has its own going rate. For example, a data engineer (code 2133) has a standard going rate of £54,900, so £45,000 is not enough. You can be paid less (down to £33,400 in most cases) only in set situations: you are a new entrant, you hold a relevant PhD, or your job is on the Immigration Salary List. Health and education jobs follow national pay scales instead.
Step 1: find your 4-digit occupation code
Your salary test depends on your occupation code, not your job title. Ask your employer which code they will put on your certificate of sponsorship. If you do not have an offer yet, search your job in the CASCOT coding tool that GOV.UK links to.
Then look the code up in the going rates table. Two words matter:
- Higher skilled: you can apply in the normal way.
- Medium skilled: you can apply only if the job is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List (or in a few extension cases). Partners and children usually cannot join you in a medium-skilled job (GOV.UK, November 2026).
Step 2: compare your salary with the right number
The annual going rates assume a 37.5-hour week. If your contract says 40 hours, the rate is adjusted for your hours. GOV.UK also gives an hourly figure for every code.
Here are 15 common codes, with the standard going rate from the GOV.UK table, checked in November 2026. The last column shows the usual minimum for a new applicant: the higher of £41,700 or the going rate.
| Code | Job type | Standard going rate | Usual minimum for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2133 | IT business analysts, architects, systems designers (incl. data engineers) | £54,900 | £54,900 |
| 2134 | Programmers and software developers | £54,700 | £54,700 |
| 2135 | Cyber security professionals | £48,500 | £48,500 |
| 2136 | IT quality and testing professionals | £41,200 | £41,700 |
| 2139 | IT professionals nec (incl. DevOps engineers) | £52,300 | £52,300 |
| 2121 | Civil engineers | £50,400 | £50,400 |
| 2122 | Mechanical engineers | £46,800 | £46,800 |
| 2123 | Electrical engineers | £58,700 | £58,700 |
| 2124 | Electronics engineers | £52,000 | £52,000 |
| 2412 | Solicitors and lawyers | £51,600 | £51,600 |
| 2421 | Chartered and certified accountants | £49,200 | £49,200 |
| 2431 | Management consultants and business analysts | £50,200 | £50,200 |
| 2433 | Actuaries, economists, statisticians | £55,100 | £55,100 |
| 2311 | Higher education teaching professionals | £52,600 | £52,600 |
| 1131 | Financial managers and directors | £75,100 | £75,100 |
Source: GOV.UK going rates for eligible occupation codes, checked November 2026. The table also has a lower going rate. It applies only if you are on a Health and Care Worker visa in certain jobs, or you got your first Skilled Worker certificate before 4 April 2024 and have held Skilled Worker visas since then.
Look at code 2136: the going rate (£41,200) is below £41,700, so you need £41,700. Now ask yourself: does your offer beat both numbers?
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Step 3: check if you can be paid less
If you do not reach the usual minimum, you may still qualify in these cases (GOV.UK, November 2026).
New entrant: 70% of the going rate
You can be paid 70% of the standard going rate, with a floor of £33,400, if one of these is true:
- you are under 26 on the date you apply
- you are on a UK Student visa at bachelor's level or above, or a Graduate visa (or were in the last 2 years)
- you will work towards a recognised qualification in a UK regulated profession
- you will work towards full registration or chartered status in the job
There is a limit: your total stay on these terms, including any Graduate visa time, cannot be more than 4 years.
Worked example: a 24-year-old software developer (code 2134). 70% of £54,700 is £38,290. That is above £33,400, so the offer needs at least £38,290.
Relevant PhD
- STEM PhD: 80% of the going rate, at least £33,400
- Other PhD: 90% of the going rate, at least £37,500
Your PhD must be relevant to the job. Overseas doctorates must be checked through Ecctis.
Job on the Immigration Salary List
If your job is on the Immigration Salary List, you need at least £33,400, but still at least the standard going rate for the job. You also pay a lower visa fee. In November 2026 the list had 25 entries, such as biological scientists (2112), graphic designers (2142), bricklayers (5313), carpenters and joiners (5316) and roofers (5314). Some entries apply only in Scotland or only to certain roles, so read the line for your code.
Health and education jobs
Some health and education jobs use national pay scales, such as NHS bands, with a floor of £25,000 (GOV.UK, November 2026). Check the pay band your employer gives you against the GOV.UK pay scale tables.
The Temporary Shortage List: entry, not a discount
The Temporary Shortage List lets some medium-skilled jobs use the Skilled Worker route at all. Examples include data analysts (3544), electricians (5241), plumbers (5315), welders (5213) and vehicle technicians (5231). GOV.UK does not list it as a salary discount, so the usual minimum still applies unless you qualify as a new entrant or another discount applies.
The House of Commons Library says this list is in place until the end of 2026, and the Migration Advisory Committee has made recommendations on what comes after (Commons Library, September 2026). If your job is on it, check GOV.UK again before your certificate is assigned.
Red flags in a job offer
If a UK offer seems to pay below the going rate, or someone asks you to "top up" your salary with your own money, be careful. Some fake sponsors promise a visa on a salary that can never pass the test. Paste the offer letter into the checker below before you send money or documents.
Then check the company on the register of licensed sponsors, and read how to check that a company is real.
What to do if your offer is too low
- Ask about the code. Is the job described correctly? A wrong code can mean the wrong test, but never ask for a code that does not match the real duties. That can be treated as deception.
- Ask about hours. A 37.5-hour week can change the maths.
- Negotiate with the number. "The going rate for code 2134 is £54,700" is a clear, polite ask.
- Check if you are a new entrant. Under 26? Recent UK graduate?
- Budget the visa. If the salary passes, read our breakdown of the Skilled Worker visa cost. Then see the full UK Skilled Worker visa guide.
Planning to stay for good? Read what the proposed earned settlement rules could mean: under the proposals, higher-skilled workers earning over £50,270 could settle sooner than others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Skilled Worker salary threshold in 2026?
For most new applicants it is £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the job's occupation code if that is higher. Lower minimums, usually not below £33,400, apply to new entrants, relevant PhD holders and jobs on the Immigration Salary List.
What is a "going rate"?
It is the minimum annual salary the Home Office sets for each 4-digit occupation code, based on a 37.5-hour week. You can find it in the GOV.UK going rates table.
What is the new entrant salary for a Skilled Worker visa?
70% of the standard going rate for your job, with a floor of £33,400. You must be under 26, a recent UK student or graduate, or working towards professional registration. The total stay on new entrant terms is capped at 4 years.
Does the Temporary Shortage List lower the salary threshold?
GOV.UK lists it as a way for some medium-skilled jobs to qualify, not as a salary discount. The Immigration Salary List is the list that lowers the threshold.
Can my employer pay part of my salary as an allowance?
Only guaranteed basic pay usually counts. Many allowances, bonuses and overtime do not. Ask your employer how they calculated the salary on your certificate of sponsorship.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Salary rules and going rates change, and some rules have transitional cases. Always confirm with the official source and a licensed lawyer or registered adviser before you act.
