Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold 2026 — £41,700 Going Rate Guide
The UK Skilled Worker visa salary threshold in 2026 is £41,700 per year (general route). The actual minimum for any sponsored role is the higher of £41,700 or the SOC code going rate — official gov.uk guidance for the Skilled Worker visa salary threshold 2026 confirms the route minimum and the going rate must both be met.
Skilled Worker salary threshold 2026 at a glance
| Route / discount | Salary threshold (2026) | % of SOC going rate |
|---|---|---|
| General Skilled Worker | £41,700 | 100% |
| PhD relevant to the role | £37,500 | 90% |
| PhD in STEM relevant to the role | £33,400 | 80% |
| Immigration Salary List (ISL) role | £33,400 | 100% of ISL rate |
| New entrant (under 26, recent grad, Student switch) | £33,400 | 70% |
| Scale-up Worker route | £39,100 | 100% |
| Transitional (pre-4 April 2024 CoS) | Lower floors apply; not available for new CoS | |
Source: gov.uk Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker — figures effective from 8 April 2026. The effective threshold for each worker is always the higher of the route minimum and the SOC going rate.
The new rolling-window rule (SW 14.3B)
In force from 8 April 2026, SW 14.3B requires that the salary be met in each pay period, not just averaged across the year. For monthly-paid workers, this means at least one quarter of the annual minimum must be received in any 3-month rolling window — a material change from the old annualised approach and a common source of unintended non-compliance.
Going rates vary by SOC code
There are 535 Skilled Worker SOC codes, each with its own going rate. The effective threshold for any worker is always the higher of the route minimum and the SOC going rate — never just the headline £41,700.