UK Skilled Worker Salary Threshold Checker
Check if your job offer meets the April 2024 salary requirements. Instant. No signup.
Not sure? Most applicants select “General.” Check the Immigration Salary List if you think your role qualifies.
Enter gross annual salary as shown in your offer letter. Do not include bonuses or overtime.
Use the hours in your employment contract. Most full-time UK roles are 37 or 37.5 hours.
Found on the Home Office going rates table for your SOC code. Leave blank to skip this check.
How This Checker Works
The UK Skilled Worker visa has two salary tests that run at the same time. You need to pass both, not just one.
The first is the general threshold test, which checks your annual salary against the minimum for your job category. Since April 2024, this is £38,700 for general roles.
The second is the going rate test, which checks your salary against the standard market rate for your specific occupation code (SOC code). This number varies by role and is published by the Home Office.
The rule is: your salary must meet whichever figure is higher. So even if you earn £40,000, if your occupation’s going rate is £42,000, you may still fall short.
Hourly Rate = Annual Salary / (Weekly Hours x 52)
Threshold Met = Annual Salary >= Applicable Minimum AND Hourly Rate >= £15.88
The 2024 Salary Thresholds at a Glance
The Home Office changed the rules significantly on April 4, 2024. Here is what the thresholds look like now:
| Category | Annual Minimum | Hourly Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| General (most roles) | £38,700 | £15.88 |
| Immigration Salary List (shortage roles) | £30,960 | £15.88 |
| New entrant (under 26 or recent grad) | £30,960 | £15.88 |
| PhD-level role | £34,830 | £15.88 |
| Health and care worker | £29,000 | £15.88 |
| Education (shortage teacher) | £30,000 | £15.88 |
Why This Changed in April 2024
The previous threshold was £26,200. The Migration Advisory Committee recommended raising it to reduce net migration numbers and prevent undercutting of UK workers. The government accepted the recommendation and went further than the MAC suggested.
For Nigerians and other applicants already in the visa pipeline, applications submitted before April 4, 2024 are assessed under the old rules. Anything submitted on or after that date uses the new figures.
Realistic Scenarios
Scenario 1: Single applicant, IT support role
Toluwani has an offer as an IT support analyst at £36,000 per year. The going rate for her SOC code is £33,000. The role is not on the Immigration Salary List. Her salary of £36,000 is below the general threshold of £38,700, so she does not pass the salary test as-is. She would need either a salary increase to at least £38,700, or she would need to confirm whether her role qualifies for the new entrant rate (£30,960) if she recently graduated.
Scenario 2: Software engineer, going rate exceeds threshold
Emeka has an offer as a software developer at £45,000. The general threshold is £38,700, so he passes that test easily. But the going rate for software developers under the relevant SOC code is £48,000. Because his salary is below the going rate, he fails the second test. He needs his employer to raise the offer to at least £48,000 or negotiate a higher base salary.
Scenario 3: NHS nurse on health and care route
Adaeze is a registered nurse with an NHS offer at £29,500. The health and care worker minimum is £29,000. She passes both the annual threshold and the hourly rate test. Her path is simpler than a general applicant, though she still needs her employer to hold a valid sponsorship licence for the health and care route specifically.
Edge Cases and Common Questions
Why Nigerians Choose the UK Work Route
The UK is the most popular Japa destination for Nigerians in professional roles, particularly in healthcare, IT, engineering, and education. There are a few practical reasons for this beyond just salary numbers.
Nigeria and the UK share a legal and educational heritage. Nigerian degrees from many universities are recognised in the UK without full revalidation. English is the working language, which removes a significant barrier that Germany, France, or Japan require you to clear first.
The NHS actively recruits from Nigeria. The OSCE (Overseas Community and Support for Employees) and related programs create a relatively structured pipeline for Nigerian nurses and allied health professionals. And the UK’s Nigerian diaspora community, one of the largest in Europe, provides a real social infrastructure for new arrivals.
That said, the 2024 salary increase has made the route harder for entry-level and mid-level applicants. A £38,700 minimum salary in London is manageable. The same threshold in Leeds, Sheffield, or Coventry covers a significant portion of the local salary band, making it less flexible for employers to offer competitive above-threshold salaries on top of that.
What This Tool Does Not Do
This checker has one job: it tells you whether your offered salary clears the published thresholds. That is it.
It does not assess your overall eligibility for the Skilled Worker visa. There are other requirements, including English language, valid sponsorship, and the points-based system criteria. It does not check your occupation’s specific going rate unless you enter it manually. It does not provide legal advice. Nothing on this page should be read as a recommendation for any course of action.
For official guidance, always go to gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa and consult a regulated immigration adviser (OISC-registered) if you have specific questions about your situation.
