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The minimum salary requirement for a skilled worker visa UK is one of the more difficult parts of sponsoring someone. No one base salary level for skilled workers applies to all jobs. Finding the right minimum salary for skilled worker visa requires using the most recent Home Office guidance and making sure that the right level is used for the job and the applicant’s situation.
Any mistakes in following the rules or figuring out the salary level can lead to visa application refusal or even legal action against the sponsor for not following the sponsor’s advice rules.
What is the Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary?
In Appendix Skilled Worker, you can find the skilled worker visa minimum salary 2024 standards, along with lower salary thresholds that are available:
Options A through E: general (wages based on the middle earner):
| Option | Description | Requirements of Salary | Points |
| A | Not a deal, just a salary | The person makes the same amount of money as or more than: The general level is £38,700 a year. As shown in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations, the full starting rate for the job code £15.88 an hour | 20 |
| B | PhD in the field (10% off the general level and going rate) | This person has a PhD in a field related to the job, and their pay is the same as or more than all of the following: £34,830 a year (the general level) 90% of the average wage for the job code listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations £15.88 an hour | 20 |
| C | Relevant PhD in a Subject in STEM (20% off the general threshold and going rate) | The candidate has a PhD in a field related to the job, and their pay is the same as or more than all of the following: £34,830 a year (the general level) 90% of the average wage for the job code listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations £15.88 an hour | 20 |
| D | Appendix I: Job in the Immigration Salary List (20% off the general level only) | This applicant is just starting in their profession and is already making more than the following: The annual general barrier is £30,960. Table 1 of the Skilled Occupations Appendix states that the going rate for the occupation code is 70%.£15.88 hourly | 20 |
| E | 20% off the general level and 30% off the going rate for new customers. | This applicant is just starting in their profession and is already making more than the following: The annual general barrier is £30,960. Table 1 of the Skilled Occupations Appendix states that the going rate for the occupation code is 70%. £15.88 hourly | 20 |
Selection of Health and Care Jobs (F–J) and Other Transitional Assistance Programmes:
| Option | For Certain Health and Care Occupations and Transitional Provisions. | Salary Requirements | Points |
| F | Earnings only (no discounts) | Applicants’ salaries meet or exceed: £29,000 a year (the general number) As shown in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations, the full going rate for the job code £11.90-an-hour | 20 |
| G | PhD in a relevant field (10% off the general benchmark and going rate) | The applicant possesses a PhD in an area pertinent to the job position, and their pay equals or exceeds the following: As a general rule, £26,100 per year. As indicated in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations, 90% of the going rate for the job code£11.90-an-hour | 20 |
| H | PhD in a STEM field that is relevant (20% compensation based on general threshold and going rate) | The applicant possesses a PhD in a STEM field relevant to the position, and all or most of the following are covered by their salary: £23,200 (the usual threshold) annuallyEighty percent of the going rate for the code of occupation as listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations, Table 2 or 2a£11.90 per hour | 20 |
| I | Employment in the Immigration Salary Appendix (20% off the general threshold only) | Sponsored for a position on the Immigration Salary List, the applicant’s pay meets or above all of the following: £23,200 (the usual threshold) annually the entire going rate for the code of occupation as indicated in Appendix Skilled Occupations, Table 2.£11.90 per hour | 20 |
| J | 10% off the general threshold and 30% off the going rate for newcomers | The candidate is a recent hire just beginning their career, and their pay meets or surpasses each of the following: £23,200 (the usual threshold) annually70% of the going rate for the code of occupation as indicated in Appendix Skilled Occupations’ Table 2 or 2a £11.90 per working hour | 20 |
| K | Qualifying profession code for health or education | The candidate is being sponsored for a position in one of the specified health or education-related fields, and their pay is equal with or more than both: £23,200 annually (the basic criterion); and the going rate as specified in Tables 3, 4, or 5 of Appendix Skilled Occupations for the code of occupation | 20 |
If a worker is sponsored, their pay usually has to meet or be higher than the relevant threshold, the full going rate for their job code as shown in the relevant Table of Appendix Skilled Occupations, and the relevant hourly rate.
In order to get a Skilled Worker Visa, the minimum income is now £38,700, or £15.88 an hour, and there are no salary discounts available. This limit will raise if you send applications on or after April 4, 2024. Previously, the minimum wage level was £26,200, up from £25,600 in March 2023.
To get the Skilled Worker visa, many applicants will have to make at least £38,700 a year, which is about £15.88 an hour, and at least that much more than the going rate for their job code.
Keep in mind that people who want to become Health and Care Workers must make at least £29,000 a year, or £11.90 an hour, or the full going rate for their job code as shown in Table 2 or 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations, with no savings.
If the worker has “tradeable points,” they might be able to count on a smaller salary threshold. For instance, if they have a job offer for a position on the Immigration Salary List or a PhD in a relevant field.
The minimum wage is based on a 37.5-hour work week. If there are different work schedules, employers must adjust the pay on the basis of number of hours worked each week.
Choose the Right Occupation Code
For the Skilled Worker route to work, the employer must ensure that the job is on the Government’s list of jobs allowed under the Immigration Rules. The list also shows the “going rate” for each job and the minimum wage require for “new entrants” and other workers.
Employers must meet the required minimum salary if the occupation code lists a higher going rate salary than the absolute minimum level.
When companies pick an occupation code (SOC code), they should use the CASCOT occupation coding tool to find the code that fits the job the best and then use that code. If the chosen occupation code is not on the list, the Skilled Worker route cannot support the person. The Home Office switched to the Standard Occupational Classification 2020 coding system in April 2024. Employers should check all forms for the new system codes to make sure they follow the right system.
You should also get ready for the Home Office to check and assess the SOC you provide. Do this by reading the job description for the position you are hiring for.
If the worker enters the wrong occupation code, immigration authorities will likely turn down their visa.
If an actual mistake was made by picking the wrong work code, there might be a chance to fix it. The Home Office can suspend the employer’s sponsor licence while they investigate further. If they think the wrong code was used for the sponsorship, they will check if the correct code would have met the salary or skill level needed for the job.
Authorities are always changing the list of occupation codes. When supporting a new worker, ensure that the already used codes are still valid.
What does the term “New Entrant” refer to?
The salary threshold for new applicants has been lowered to £30,960. This is less than the salary threshold for “other workers” in the same job. Therefore, anyone depending on the new entrant rate must be able to demonstrate that they meet the requirements. These include being under 26 years old at the time of applying for a visa and either:
Individuals sponsored in a postdoctoral research position or obtaining professional qualifications, chartered status, or registration.
However, newcomers can only take three years off at a time. If they want to stay in the UK after this time, they will have to make another application. They will no longer be a “new entrant” if they keep going the Skilled Worker way.
When do salary points become tradeable?
There may also be a way to lower the minimum salary amount under the “tradeable points” rules. If individuals earn at least £23,200 a year and meet one of the following conditions, they can receive 70% to 90% of the normal rate for the job.
- The job is on the list of immigration salaries.
- The person applying is new to the job (under 26 years old), studying, or in professional training. They also have a technology, science, maths, or engineering (STEM) PhD that is related to the role.
- The person works as a research fellow in science or higher education.
Skilled worker to least ILR salary
ILR stands for “Indefinite Leave to Remain.” This is something that a person who has had a Skilled Worker visa for five years can apply for. To accomplish this, they must fulfil a variety of requirements, including:
- Earn at least the minimum ILR pay or more than the going rate for their job.
- Proof of who you are includes a current passport. It also encompasses a biometric residence permit or biometric residence card.
- Applicants must also provide a digital picture of their face. Additionally, they need to submit their fingerprints if they do not already possess a legal biometric residence card.
- To be eligible, applicants must show proof that they have stayed in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for at least 6 months out of every 12 months for 5 years consecutively.
- Applicants over the age of 18 should list any criminal records. You do not need to list fines, “spent convictions,” or “cautions.”
Looking for Assistance?
We are experts in UK business immigration. Additionally, we have a lot of experience and an outstanding track record. We also help employers and workers with all parts of hiring skilled workers on the Skilled Worker visa. Further, our immigration solicitors assist people in sponsoring workers. For expert immigration advice on who is eligible to be a Skilled Worker and how to apply, including how to figure out salary and match occupational codes, please call us at 02033844389.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What’s the minimum salary requirement to get a Skilled Worker visa?
Ans. The Skilled Worker visa requires workers to make at least £38,700 a year. Alternatively, they must earn the going rate for their job, whichever is higher. It’s possible to get a lower pay if a few things are true. These include the job being on the Immigration Pay List, the worker being a “new entrant,” or having a PhD in the field.
Q2: What do I need to do to get a Skilled Worker visa?
Ans. To get a Skilled person visa, a person must meet all of the following conditions:
- If the job qualifies for the visa, the worker will pay at least the minimum wage or the “going rate” for the type of work, whichever is higher.
- The worker will also work for a UK company that is authorised to hire foreign workers.
Q3: With a Skilled Worker visa, how many hours can you work?
Ans. Most earnings are based on a 39-hour work week, while there are a few variations listed in the occupation codes. If a person is going to get the exact minimum wage for their job, the hours they put in become more important. Generally speaking, a worker is regarded to be paid less than the legally permissible minimum wage if they are expected to work longer than their contractual hours, which is typically 39 hours per week.
Q4: What is a job-in-shortage occupation?
Ans. On the Immigration Salary List, which used to be called the Shortage Occupation List, the Home Office lists jobs for which there aren’t enough workers available in the local job market. A lower minimum salary threshold helps ISL jobs. It makes it easier for employers to hire people from other countries to fill these shortage roles.
