UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Calculator
Check whether a salary meets the dual-test compliance framework: general threshold AND occupation-specific going rate. Covers all 11 salary options (A-K) under the rules effective 22 July 2025.
Key Salary Rule Changes (July 2025)
- General threshold increased: Standard route now £41,700 (up from £38,700)
- RQF 6+ required: Only graduate-level occupations eligible for standard sponsorship
- Hourly floor £17.13: Standard route options A-E enforce minimum hourly rate
- Non-combinable discounts: Only ONE salary option per application (stacking = refusal)
- ISL threshold only: Immigration Salary List reduces threshold, NOT going rate
Understanding the Dual-Test Salary Framework
Every UK Skilled Worker visa application must pass a dual salary test: the offered salary must meet both a general cash threshold AND an occupation-specific going rate requirement. The higher of these two figures determines the minimum compliant salary.
The 2026 framework provides 11 salary options (A-K) across three route categories. Standard Route options (A-E) cover RQF 6+ professional occupations with a £17.13 hourly floor. Health and Care options (F-J) serve Table 2 occupations with lower thresholds and no hourly floor. Discounts range from 10% (PhD non-STEM) to 30% (New Entrant) on the going rate, but only one discount can be applied per application.
Standard Route (Options A-E) - Table 1 Occupations
| Option | Threshold | Going Rate % | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | £41,700 | 100% | Standard experienced worker baseline |
| B | £37,500 | 90% | Relevant PhD (non-STEM) - 10% discount |
| C | £33,400 | 80% | STEM PhD, researcher, or inventor - 20% discount |
| D | £33,400 | 100% | ISL role - threshold reduction only (no going rate discount) |
| E | £33,400 | 70% | New entrant - maximum 30% discount, 4-year cap |
All Standard Route options enforce a £17.13/hour floor with 48-hour weekly cap.
Health & Care Route (Options F-J) - Table 2 Occupations
| Option | Threshold | Going Rate % | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | £31,300 | 100% | Standard Health & Care baseline |
| G | £28,200 | 90% | Health & Care with relevant PhD (non-STEM) |
| H | £25,000 | 80% | Health & Care with STEM PhD |
| I | £25,000 | 100% | Health & Care ISL (threshold only) |
| J | £25,000 | 70% | Health & Care New Entrant - 4-year cap |
Health & Care options have no hourly floor. Lower going rates from sector-specific ASHE data.
How Pro-Rating Works for Part-Time
The going rate is based on a 37.5-hour reference week. For part-time roles, the going rate is pro-rated down, but the general threshold stays fixed. This creates a "threshold cliff effect" where part-time work dramatically increases the effective hourly requirement.
Discounted going rate = Pro-rated going rate x Option percentage
Minimum required = MAX(General threshold, Discounted going rate)
| Weekly Hours | Going Rate (70%) | Threshold | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37.5 (full-time) | £34,580 | £33,400 | Going rate |
| 30 | £27,664 | £33,400 | Threshold |
| 20 | £18,443 | £33,400 | Threshold |
Example uses SOC 2136 (Programmers, £49,400 going rate) under Option E (New Entrant, 70%).
Non-Combinable Discounts
Attempting to stack multiple discount options results in automatic refusal:
- New Entrant + PhD = Refusal
- New Entrant + ISL = Refusal
- PhD + ISL = Refusal
Select the single most advantageous eligible option for your situation.
Official Government Sources
This information is for guidance only and reflects salary thresholds effective from 22 July 2025. Going rates are based on ASHE 2024 median data and may be updated periodically. Discounts are non-combinable. Always refer to the official Appendix Skilled Occupations for definitive going rate information.
Check Your Salary Compliance
Use our interactive calculator to verify whether a salary meets both the general threshold and occupation-specific going rate under the current immigration rules.
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