Skilled worker visa minimum pay

What is the minimum salary or wages for COS and UK Skilled Worker visa 22 July 2025

Skilled worker minimum salary rules are currently much more complex to figure out than they used to be prior to April 2024 and from 22 July 2025 it has become even more complex. There are at present many different possible salary rate levels that sponsor employers need to consider when assessing what minimum salary must be paid for a particular job role to qualify for the Skilled Worker visa. We explain this in more detail further below.

Employers sponsoring migrant workers should carefully consider the salary options to understand which one can apply in their case. It is helpful to obtain professional legal advice to be on the safe side not risking refusal of applications.

Why it is important to pay the minimum salary for Skilled Worker visa

Minimum salary level is one of the key requirements that must be met for the Certificate of Sponsorship (COS) and Skilled Worker visa to be granted. Meeting the minimum salary requirement is equally important as the minimum NQF skill Level requirement and genuine vacancy test.

How to assess minimum salary required for a Skilled Worker job role

What approach you should take as sponsor employer when choosing the minimum salary for each sponsored job. First, check if any of the options 2-11 apply to the specific job role and migrant chosen for the role to see if any discounted lower minimum can apply. If none of them apply, then you must pay the minimum salary from Option 1 (‘A’).

Option 1 (‘A’) minimum pay

This is a standard minimum salary, which has to be paid if none of the other option (B-F inclusive) apply for the specific job role. The salary has to be at least £41,700 gross base salary OR the going rate for the occupation code (Soc Code) for the role, whichever of the two is higher.

Option 2 (‘B’) minimum pay

This option can be used when your migrant worker has a PHD in a subject that is relevant for the specific job role. The minimum salary in such circumstances has to be at least £37,500 AND 90 % of the pro-rated going rate for the occupation code.

Option 3 (‘C’) minimum pay

This option can be used when your migrant worker has a PHD in a STEM subject relevant for the specific job role. The minimum salary in such circumstances has to be at least £33,400 AND 80 % of the pro-rated going rate for the occupation code.

Option 4 (‘D’) minimum pay

This option can be used when a job you offer to a migrant worker is on a shortage occupation list  Immigration Rules Appendix Shortage Occupation List – Immigration Rules – Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).The minimum salary in such circumstances has to be at least £33,400 AND 100 % of the pro-rated going rate for the occupation code. You can read more about the Immigration Salary list on our website here.

Option 5 (‘E’) minimum pay

This option can be used when your migrant worker is a ‘new entrant to the labour market’. There are a number of different categories that qualify a migrant as a ‘new entrant’. Very common one is when a migrant is under 26 years old at the date of application or is a graduate from UK university who obtained a BA, Master’s or PHD degree. Another example is when a migrant is in the UK on Graduate visa.

The minimum salary for ‘new entrant’ has to be at least £33,400 per year & 70 % of the going rate for the occupation code. The minimum salary at ‘new entrant’ level can be paid for a limited duration only. You can read more about ‘new entrant’ category in our article here and in the UK immigration rules.

Option 6 (‘F’) minimum pay

This option can be used when your migrant worker’s job offer is for a job in Occupation codes in Tables 2 and 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations. The minimum salary in such circumstances has to be at least £31,300 AND the full pro-rated going rate for the SOC2020 occupation code.

Option 7 (‘G’) minimum pay

This option can be used when your migrant worker’s job offer is for a job in Occupation codes in Tables 2 and 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations and applicant have a relevant PhD.The minimum salary in such circumstances has to be at least £28,200 AND 90% of the pro-rated going rate for the occupation code.

Option 8 (‘H’) minimum pay

This option can be used when your migrant worker’s job offer is for a job in Occupation codes in Tables 2 and 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations and applicant have a relevant STEM PhD.The minimum salary in such circumstances has to be at least £25,000 AND 80% of the pro-rated going rate for the occupation code.

Option 9 (‘I’) minimum pay

This option can be used when your migrant worker’s job offer is for a job in Occupation codes in Tables 2 and 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the job on the Immigration Salary List (ISL). The minimum salary in such circumstances has to be at least £25,000 AND the full pro-rated going
rate for the SOC2020 occupation code for the occupation code.

option 10 (‘J’) minimum pay

This option can be used when your migrant worker’s job offer is for a job in Occupation codes in Tables 2 and 2a of Appendix Skilled Occupations and the applicant is a new entrant. The minimum salary in such circumstances has to be at least £25,000 AND 70% of the pro-rated going rate for occupation code.

option 11 (‘K’) minimum pay

This option can be used when your migrant worker’s job offer is for a job in Occupation codes in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. The minimum salary in such circumstances has to be at least £25,000 AND 100% of the pro-rated going rate for occupation code.

Home Office rules for skilled worker salary from 22 July 2025

If the requirements for the relevant option are met, the applicant will be awarded 20 points. However, no points will be awarded if the applicant is not also being awarded the 20 points for sponsorship. and the 20 points for a job at the appropriate skill level under SW 6.4.

Option	Requirements	Relevant further rules	Points
A	The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both: • £41,700 per year; and • the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 8.1.	20
B	The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £37,500 per year; and • 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 9.1. to SW 9.4	20
C	The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £33,400 per year; and • 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 10.1. to SW 10.3.	20
D	The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £33,400 per year; and • the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code	SW 11.1. to SW 11.3.	20
E	The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £33,400 per year and • 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 12.1. to SW 12.3.	20
F	The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both: • £31,300 per year; and • the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 8.1	20
G	The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £28,200 per year; and • 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 9.1 to 9.4	20
H	The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £25,000 per year; and • 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 10.1 to 10.3.	20
I	The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £25,000 per year; and • the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 11.1. to 11.3.	20
J	The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £25,000 per year; and • 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 12.1. to 12.3.	20
K	The applicant is being sponsored for a job in a listed health or education occupation and their salary equals or exceeds both: • £25,000 per year; and • the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.	SW 13.1. to 13.3.	20