Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold (£38,700): What Changed

Getting a job offer is only half the battle. If the salary on paper doesn’t match what the Home Office expects, even a genuine offer can fall apart before it reaches the visa stage. That’s exactly what’s happened to thousands of applicants and sponsors since the skilled worker visa salary threshold moved to £38,700. Some found out too late. Others are still unsure whether the new figure even applies to them.

This guide walks through what changed, why it changed, and how the threshold interacts with the going rate for your specific occupation. We’ll also cover the parts of Appendix Skilled Worker that often get overlooked: the requirements that sit alongside the salary figure, not instead of it.

Numbers in immigration law move. Always confirm the current position before you rely on any figure quoted anywhere.

Quick Overview: The Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold at a Glance

Before the detail, here’s the shape of it:

Requirement	Current Position
General salary threshold	£38,700 per year
Basis for assessment	Higher of the general threshold or the occupation’s going rate
Governing rules	Appendix Skilled Worker
Affects	New applicants, sponsors renewing certificates, workers switching jobs
Transitional cases	Some workers sponsored before the change may follow earlier rules

Keep this table as your anchor point. Everything below builds on it.

Understanding the Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold

The skilled worker visa salary threshold is the baseline annual salary a sponsor must offer before a Certificate of Sponsorship can be assigned. It sits at the heart of Appendix Skilled Worker, the section of the Immigration Rules that governs sponsored work visas.

But the threshold rarely works alone. It sits next to the skilled worker visa minimum salary rule for the specific job, known as the going rate. Whichever figure is higher, the general threshold or the going rate for that occupation code, is the one that applies. A sponsor cannot simply meet the lower number and call it done.

This dual test is where most confusion starts. Employers sometimes assume £38,700 is a flat figure for every role. It isn’t.

Where the Threshold Sits Within Appendix Skilled Worker

Appendix Skilled Worker is the rulebook for sponsored employment visas. It’s separate from other family and study-based routes, such as Appendix FM (which covers partner and family visas) and Appendix Family Reunion. Each of these follows its own financial requirement, and they shouldn’t be confused with one another.

If your query touches on eligibility more broadly, our Skilled Worker visa eligibility guide sets out the full criteria, not just salary.

Why Salary Levels Are Reviewed Periodically

Salary thresholds aren’t fixed forever. They’re reviewed against wage inflation, labour market data, and periodic input from bodies that advise the government on migration policy. This is precisely why applicants and sponsors need to check the current figure rather than relying on a number they read a year ago.

What Changed With the Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold

The skilled worker visa salary threshold moved from its earlier baseline to £38,700, reflecting updated pay data used to set going rates across occupations. This wasn’t a small adjustment. For many roles, it represented a meaningful jump from what sponsors had budgeted before.

Transitional protections exist for some workers who were already sponsored before the change took effect. These arrangements allow certain existing visa holders to continue under earlier salary rules for a limited period, rather than being forced onto the new figure immediately. Whether this applies to a specific case depends on the exact dates involved, so it’s worth checking rather than assuming.

Previous Threshold Compared With the Current Figure

	Previous Position	Current Position
General threshold	Lower baseline figure	£38,700
Pay data used	Earlier published scales	Updated pay data
Transitional cases	N/A	Some existing sponsorships may retain earlier terms

If you were sponsored before the change and are unsure which column applies to you, this is worth raising directly with an adviser rather than guessing.

Who Is Affected by the Change

• New applicants applying from outside the UK under a fresh Certificate of Sponsorship
• Employers renewing or extending an existing worker’s sponsorship
• Workers switching sponsors or changing role mid-visa, where a new assessment is triggered
• Long-term visa holders approaching settlement, where salary history can matter for Indefinite Leave to Remain

Each of these groups faces a slightly different practical question, even though the underlying threshold is the same.

Skilled Worker Visa Requirements Beyond the Salary Figure

It’s tempting to treat the salary figure as the finish line. It isn’t. The skilled worker visa requirements cover several conditions that sit alongside pay:

• A valid Certificate of Sponsorship issued for a genuine vacancy
• A role at the required skill level (RQF 3 or above)
• A demonstrated need for the role, not a position created to support a visa application
• Evidence of the required English language ability

Meeting the salary figure while falling short on any of these points can still lead to refusal. Sponsors carry particular responsibility here.

The Employer’s Role in Certificate of Sponsorship Accuracy

The sponsor must record the correct salary, job title, and occupation code on the Certificate of Sponsorship. An inaccurate entry, even an honest mistake, can undermine the whole application. If your organisation holds a licence and needs a refresher on this process, our Sponsor Licence guidance covers the obligations in full.

English Language and Skill Level in Brief

These requirements are separate from salary but still central to eligibility. Applicants typically need to demonstrate English ability at the required level and show the role sits at RQF 3 or above. This is usually the more straightforward part of the assessment, but it still needs to be evidenced properly.

Going Rate Skilled Worker Visa: How Occupation-Specific Pay Is Assessed

This is where the going rate skilled worker visa system does the real work. Every occupation code carries its own going rate, published against the Standard Occupational Classification system. Some roles have a going rate well above £38,700. When that happens, the higher figure applies, not the general threshold.

This is the detail employers most often miss. A sponsor might correctly offer £38,700, only to discover the occupation code in question carries a going rate of £42,000 or more. The general threshold was never going to be enough for that role.

New Entrant and Reduced Rate Provisions

Some applicants qualify for a reduced rate. This typically applies to new entrants to the labour market or those on certain recognised national pay scales. The reduction isn’t automatic, and it doesn’t apply universally, so it’s worth confirming against the specific occupation code rather than assuming eligibility.

A Brief Note on Health and Care Worker Roles

Health and care roles are sometimes treated differently within the wider Skilled Worker framework, reflecting the distinct pay structures in that sector. If this applies to your situation, it’s worth checking the specific position for that occupation code rather than applying general assumptions.

How to Check If You Meet the Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold

A simple sequence helps here:

1. Identify the correct occupation code for the role
2. Check the general skilled worker visa salary threshold
3. Check the going rate for that specific occupation code
4. Apply whichever figure is higher
5. Adjust for part-time or reduced hours on a pro-rata basis

That last step causes more errors than any other part of the process.

Common Errors in Salary Calculation

• Pro-rata miscalculation — part-time roles need careful, accurate scaling, not rough estimates
• Outdated going rate tables — using last year’s figures instead of the current published rate
• Gross salary confusion — mixing base pay with bonuses, allowances, or benefits in kind that may not count

Any one of these can push a genuine application into refusal territory, even when the underlying job offer was fair and real.

Planning Ahead and Getting Advice

Salary thresholds will likely be reviewed again in future. Budgeting for a margin above the current figure rather than the bare minimum gives sponsors more breathing room when reviews happen. For applicants, understanding exactly which figure applies to your occupation code avoids an unwelcome surprise late in the process.

If you’re unsure where your case sits against the current rules, speaking with an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority is a sound next step before submitting anything. Our team at GMS Immigration can review your specific occupation code and salary position before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions about Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold

What is the current skilled worker visa salary threshold?
The general threshold currently stands at £38,700, though the applicable figure may be higher depending on the occupation’s going rate.

Does the going rate always take priority over the general threshold?
The higher of the two figures applies. If the going rate for a specific occupation exceeds the general threshold, that higher figure is the one a sponsor must meet.

Are there exceptions for new entrants or health and care workers?
Some reduced rate provisions exist for new entrants and certain recognised pay scales, and health and care roles are sometimes treated distinctly. These exceptions depend on the specific occupation code and circumstances.

What happens if a salary falls below the threshold after a pay review?
This depends on the individual case and the timing involved. It’s worth checking the current position directly rather than assuming past sponsorship automatically continues unaffected.