Understanding the Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold and How It Relates to UK Minimum Wage

Understanding the Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold and UK Minimum Wage

If you are a UK worker or job seeker, you may have heard about the skilled worker visa salary threshold and wondered how it relates to the wages you earn or are offered. This article explains the current rules, how the threshold compares to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage, and what it means for employers and employees.

What is the Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold?

The Skilled Worker visa allows UK employers to sponsor workers from outside the UK to fill eligible roles. To qualify, the job must meet a minimum salary requirement. According to GOV.UK guidance, the general salary threshold is £41,700 per year as of July 2025. However, this is not the only figure to consider. The visa also requires that you are paid the occupation-specific going rate, which is the median full-time annual earnings for your particular job code. You must be paid whichever is higher: the general threshold or the going rate.

For example, if the going rate for your occupation is £45,000, you would need to earn at least that amount, even though the general threshold is lower. The going rates are published by the Home Office in tables based on the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) from the Office for National Statistics. These rates are updated annually.

How Does It Compare to the National Living Wage?

The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is currently £12.71 per hour. For a standard 37.5-hour working week, that works out to roughly £24,700 per year. The skilled worker visa salary threshold of £41,700 is nearly 70% higher. This means that even if an employer pays the minimum wage, they would still need to offer a much higher salary to sponsor a Skilled Worker visa.

It is important to note that the visa salary threshold is a separate requirement from the National Minimum Wage. Employers must comply with both. The UK Minimum Wage pages on this site provide the current statutory rates for different age bands, but these are not directly relevant to visa sponsorship—the visa threshold is far more demanding.

Lower Thresholds and Exceptions

Not every Skilled Worker visa applicant needs to meet the full £41,700 threshold. The Immigration Rules allow for lower general thresholds in specific circumstances:

• £33,400 – for applicants who score points for a relevant PhD or as a new entrant to the labour market.
• £31,300 – for prison officers.
• £28,200 – for new entrants in certain occupations.
• £25,000 – for the Health and Care visa, which is a sub-route of the Skilled Worker visa.

Additionally, roles in healthcare and education often use national pay scales instead of the standard going rates. For example, NHS jobs follow Agenda for Change pay bands. The Home Office recognises these scales as meeting the salary requirement.

The Migration Advisory Committee’s Review

In January 2026, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) published a review of salary thresholds. They recommended that the general threshold be increased to £44,000 per year, based on the 30th percentile of full-time annual earnings across eligible occupations using ASHE 2025 data. As of the time of writing, this change has not yet been implemented. However, it signals that thresholds may rise in future updates. You can read more about salary trends in our pay data section.

Practical Implications for Workers and Job Seekers

If you are a UK worker, the skilled worker visa salary threshold may affect your industry’s wage levels. Employers who sponsor visas must pay at least the threshold, which can push up advertised salaries for certain roles. For job seekers, understanding the threshold helps you gauge whether a role is likely to be open to sponsorship.

For those already on a Skilled Worker visa, remember that the salary requirement applies throughout your employment. If your pay drops below the threshold, you may lose your visa status. Always check your contract and consult the pay guides on this site for more details.

Summary

The skilled worker visa salary threshold is a key part of the UK’s immigration system. At £41,700 per year (or higher for some occupations), it is well above the National Living Wage. Lower thresholds exist for certain groups, but the general rule is that sponsored workers must earn a competitive salary. Keep an eye on official updates, as thresholds are reviewed annually and may increase.

For more information on UK wage rates, visit our topics page.