How to Read the Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary: Beyond the Headline Rate

Understanding the Skilled Worker Visa Minimum Salary

When you see the headline figure of £41,700 for the Skilled Worker visa, it’s easy to assume that’s the only number you need to know. In reality, the skilled worker visa minimum salary is a layered requirement that combines a general threshold with occupation-specific going rates, discounts, and pro-rating rules. This guide explains how to read the headline rate and what it means for your pay.

The General Threshold: £41,700

The general salary threshold is set at £41,700 per year for most Skilled Worker visa applications. This figure is based on the median full-time annual earnings across all eligible occupations, as calculated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). Importantly, this threshold is never pro-rated – if you work part-time, you must still earn at least £41,700 per year, not a proportion of it. That means part-time workers effectively need a higher hourly rate to meet the requirement.

GOV.UK guidance states that your salary must be at least the higher of £41,700 or the going rate for your occupation. So the headline figure is just the starting point.

Occupation-Specific Going Rates

Each eligible occupation code has its own going rate, set at the median full-time annual earnings for that job. For example, if the going rate for a software developer is £50,000, you must be paid at least that amount, even though the general threshold is lower. The going rates are published in official tables and are updated periodically. You can find them on the GOV.UK pages for Skilled Worker visa occupation codes.

These going rates are pro-rated based on your weekly hours. If you work 30 hours per week instead of the standard 37.5, the going rate is adjusted proportionally. However, the general threshold of £41,700 remains fixed, so your pro-rated going rate could end up being lower than £41,700 – in which case the general threshold applies.

When Lower Salaries Apply

Not everyone needs to meet the full £41,700. The Home Office allows lower thresholds for certain groups:

• Healthcare and education roles: Salaries are based on national pay scales, such as NHS Agenda for Change or teacher pay scales. The minimum for a Health and Care visa is £25,000 per year (and at least £12.82 per hour), as per the sponsor guidance.
• New entrants: Recent graduates or those under 26 may qualify for a discount of 70–90% of the going rate, subject to conditions.
• PhD holders: If your job is related to your PhD, you may be paid 80% of the going rate.
• Prison officers: A specific lower going rate of £31,300 per year applies.
• Other reduced thresholds: Some roles outside healthcare may qualify for £33,400 per year, as outlined in the sponsor guidance.

Always check the specific rules for your occupation code and personal circumstances.

Pro-Rating and Hours

A common confusion is how pro-rating works. The occupation-specific going rate is calculated based on a 37.5-hour week (or the standard for your sector). If you work fewer hours, the going rate is reduced proportionally. But the general threshold of £41,700 is not pro-rated. So if your pro-rated going rate is, say, £35,000, you still need to earn £41,700 because the general threshold is higher.

This means part-time workers on a Skilled Worker visa often face a higher effective hourly requirement than full-time colleagues. For example, working 30 hours per week, you’d need an hourly rate of about £26.75 to reach £41,700 annually, compared to a full-time worker on 37.5 hours who needs about £21.38 per hour.

Compliance with Statutory Minimum Wage

Beyond the visa salary thresholds, your employer must also pay you at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage, depending on your age. The current rates are:

• National Living Wage (age 21+): £12.71 per hour
• National Minimum Wage (age 18–20): £10.85 per hour
• Under 18 and apprentices: £8.00 per hour

These are statutory minimums and apply to all workers, including visa holders. If your visa salary works out below these rates on an hourly basis, your application will be refused. The Home Office sponsor guidance explicitly states that roles must comply with the National Minimum Wage Regulations and Working Time Regulations.

How to Check Your Salary Requirement

To determine your actual minimum salary:

1. Find your occupation code in the official going rates table on GOV.UK.
2. Check the going rate for that code (based on a 37.5-hour week).
3. Pro-rate the going rate to your contracted weekly hours.
4. Compare the pro-rated going rate with the general threshold of £41,700. You must be paid the higher of the two.
5. If you qualify for a discount (new entrant, PhD, healthcare, etc.), apply the relevant percentage or use the lower threshold.
6. Ensure your hourly rate is at least the National Minimum Wage for your age.

For more detailed guidance, see our pay guides and UK Minimum Wage.

The Bigger Picture: What the Headline Rate Really Means

The £41,700 figure is a policy tool designed to ensure a minimum economic contribution from migrant workers. But it doesn’t guarantee a living wage in expensive areas like London, nor does it reflect take-home pay after tax and deductions. Always consider your net income and cost of living when evaluating a job offer.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended increasing the general threshold to £44,000 based on 2025 ASHE data, but this change has not yet been implemented. Keep an eye on official announcements.

In summary, the skilled worker visa minimum salary is not a single number but a combination of thresholds. Read the headline rate as a starting point, then dig into the occupation-specific going rate and any discounts that apply. Your actual required salary could be higher or lower than £41,700 – but it will never be less than the statutory minimum wage.

For more data and analysis, explore our pay data and topics pages.