UK Skilled Worker Salary Checker

UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Threshold Checker | 2024–2025
DeyWithMe Japa Planning Tools

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.

Your annual salary
Minimum threshold
Your hourly rate
Min hourly (general)
£15.88

What to do next

1
Ask your employer to confirm your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and that the salary in it matches your offer letter exactly.
2
Check your occupation’s going rate on the Home Office table. Your salary must meet whichever is higher: the going rate or the general threshold.
3
Calculate your total funds required for the visa application (fee, IHS, maintenance funds). Use our UK Visa Cost Calculator on DeyWithMe.
4
Apply online via the UK Visas and Immigration portal. Your employer’s sponsorship licence must be valid on the date you apply.

Your options from here

1
Negotiate salary upward. Show your employer this result. Many UK employers do not realise the 2024 thresholds changed significantly.
2
Check if your role is on the Immigration Salary List. If it is, your threshold drops to £30,960. A lot of healthcare and tech roles qualify.
3
Consider the new entrant rate. If you are under 26, switching careers, or recently graduated, you may qualify for a lower threshold of £30,960.
4
Explore other visa routes. Graduate visa, High Potential Individual, or Innovator Founder may suit your profile. Use our UK Visa Route Finder on DeyWithMe.

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.

The formula this checker uses:

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
Tip: The Immigration Salary List replaced the old Shortage Occupation List in April 2024. If your employer says you are on the “Shortage Occupation List,” double-check. That list no longer exists in its old form.

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.

Do Not Miss This Step:  UK Graduate Route Work Rights

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

What if my salary is paid in a different currency?
Your salary in the Certificate of Sponsorship must be in GBP. If your employer pays in another currency, convert at the Bank of England rate on the date of your application. Do not use a current conversion for future planning, as rates change.
Does my employer’s in-kind benefits count toward the threshold?
No. Free accommodation, meals, and other non-cash benefits do not count. Only your contracted gross annual salary counts toward the threshold check.
I am switching jobs in the UK. Does the same threshold apply?
Yes. If you are already on a Skilled Worker visa and changing employer, or changing roles with the same employer to a different SOC code, the new threshold applies. You will need a new Certificate of Sponsorship from your new employer.
My contract says “up to 40 hours.” What hours should I enter?
Enter the guaranteed contracted minimum, not the maximum. The Home Office checks hourly rate based on the hours in your contract. If the document says “up to 40,” that is ambiguous. Ask your employer to confirm your contracted hours in writing before applying.
What happens if my salary increases after I apply?
The salary on your Certificate of Sponsorship is what matters at the point of application. A pay rise after your CoS was issued does not affect your current application. If you apply for an extension later, the then-current rules apply.
I have dependants coming with me. Does that affect the salary threshold?
No. Dependants do not change your salary threshold. However, they add to your total cost of migration because each dependant has their own visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge. Use our UK Dependant Cost Calculator on DeyWithMe to see the full picture.
My role is listed as both a general occupation and on the Immigration Salary List. Which threshold applies?
If your role is on the Immigration Salary List, you can use the lower threshold of £30,960. Your employer must specifically assign you a CoS that designates your role under the ISL. This is something to confirm with your employer before they assign the CoS.
Is there a maintenance fund requirement on top of the salary?
Yes, unless your employer certifies maintenance on your CoS. If they do not, you typically need to show £1,270 in your bank account, held for 28 consecutive days before you apply. If your employer certifies maintenance, this personal savings requirement is waived.

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.

Do Not Miss This Step:  UK SOC Code Finder and Salary Checker

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.

Quick answer (snippet): As of April 2024, the general minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa is £38,700 per year. Roles on the Immigration Salary List require at least £30,960. All applicants must also meet the hourly minimum of £15.88 and their occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. These are estimates based on current published thresholds; your exact position depends on your SOC code and the specific terms in your Certificate of Sponsorship.

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.

Disclaimer: This tool is an estimation aid only. Salary thresholds, going rates, and policy rules are subject to change by the UK Home Office. This page is updated to reflect rules as of April 2024 but may not reflect future amendments. Always verify figures with official Home Office guidance before making any immigration decisions. DeyWithMe is not a regulated immigration adviser and does not provide legal advice.

Wait, There’s More