{"id":199356,"date":"2026-08-31T07:40:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T06:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=199356"},"modified":"2026-09-01T07:31:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T06:31:32","slug":"skilled-worker-salary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/corporate-immigration\/skilled-worker-salary\/","title":{"rendered":"Skilled Worker Salary Thresholds: What Sponsoring a Role Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you want to sponsor a worker under the Skilled Worker route, you need to understand both the minimum salary requirements and the wider cost of sponsorship. Those rules sit on top of the general considerations that apply when hiring workers from overseas<\/a>. For most new Skilled Worker applications, you must pay at least \u00a341,700 per year or 100% of the going rate for the worker’s occupation code, whichever is higher. Lower salary thresholds can apply in specific circumstances, including for new entrants, some PhD holders, roles on the Immigration Salary List<\/a> and certain workers first sponsored before 4 April 2024. This article explains how the Skilled Worker salary rules work, when lower thresholds may apply and what your business should budget before making an offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Salary Do You Need to Pay a Skilled Worker?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Under the standard Skilled Worker salary option, you must normally pay at least \u00a341,700 per year and 100% of the going rate for the relevant occupation code. You must satisfy both tests. This means you should treat \u00a341,700 as the minimum starting point rather than the salary that automatically applies to every sponsored role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For example, if an occupation has a \u00a339,000 going rate for a 37.5-hour week, the pro-rated going rate for a 25-hour week would be \u00a326,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Home Office sets going rates using SOC 2020 occupation codes<\/a>. For most occupations, it calculates those rates using a 37.5-hour working week. You should identify the correct occupation code before deciding whether the proposed salary meets the Skilled Worker requirements. Each code carries its own going rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The occupation code must accurately reflect the work the employee will perform. You should not select a different code simply because it carries a lower going rate. Using an inaccurate occupation code can create problems with the application and put your sponsorship compliance at risk. If the worker will work more than 37.5 hours per week, you may also need to increase the salary to satisfy the applicable going rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Can You Pay a Skilled Worker Less Than \u00a341,700?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can only pay below the usual \u00a341,700 threshold where a specific Skilled Worker salary exception applies. These exceptions do not apply automatically. You need to confirm that the worker or the role satisfies the relevant requirements before relying on a lower threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main exceptions include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n