A UK Skilled Worker visa needs 70 points. 50 come from three requirements everyone must meet, and the last 20 come from your salary. Enter your pay, the going rate for your job and any salary option that applies, and the calculator shows your points and the minimum salary you need.
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How the 70 points work
| Requirement | Points | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor | 20 | Mandatory |
| Job at the required skill level (RQF 6, or on the Temporary Shortage List) | 20 | Mandatory |
| English at level B2 | 10 | Mandatory |
| Salary at or above the minimum for your situation | 20 | Tradeable |
Missing any mandatory item means you can’t qualify, whatever you’re paid. In practice the salary test is where most applications succeed or fail.
What salary you need
You must be paid the higher of two figures: the general threshold, and the going rate for your occupation code. For most new applicants that’s at least £41,700 a year. Only guaranteed basic pay counts. Overtime, bonuses, and allowances such as London weighting are left out.
| Your situation | Salary floor | Share of going rate |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £41,700 | 100% |
| Job on the Immigration Salary List | £33,400 | 100% |
| Under 26, student, recent graduate or in professional training | £33,400 | 70% |
| Relevant PhD in a STEM subject | £33,400 | 80% |
| Relevant PhD in a non-STEM subject | £37,500 | 90% |
| Postdoctoral role in science or higher education | £33,400 | 70% |
Going rates assume a 37.5-hour week, so the calculator adjusts them for your hours. The £41,700 and £33,400 floors aren’t reduced for shorter hours, and pay for any hours over 48 a week doesn’t count.
Three worked examples
These are made-up cases to show how the rules play out. The going rates are examples only. Look up the real figure for your occupation code before you rely on a result.
1. A software developer offered £45,000
Suppose the going rate for the role is £49,000. £45,000 clears the £41,700 floor but not the going rate, so the salary scores 0 points and the total is 50. If the candidate is 24 and has just graduated, the new-entrant option applies instead. The floor drops to £33,400 and the going-rate test to 70% of £49,000 (£34,300), so £45,000 now passes with 70 points.
2. A part-time research role
A postdoctoral researcher works 30 hours a week for £35,000, in a role with a full-time going rate of £42,000. For a postdoc the test is 70% of the going rate, pro-rated to 30 hours: £42,000 × 0.7 × 30 ÷ 37.5 = £23,520. The £33,400 floor is higher, so that’s the minimum, and £35,000 passes.
3. Long hours don’t rescue a low salary
An offer of £40,000 for 55 hours a week sounds like enough hours to add up. But only pay for 48 hours counts, so the counted salary is £40,000 × 48 ÷ 55 ≈ £34,900. That’s below £41,700, so a standard applicant fails the salary test.
Common reasons people fall short
- Counting allowances. A £39,000 salary plus a £4,000 location allowance is still £39,000 for the visa.
- Using the wrong occupation code. The code decides the going rate and the skill level. Your sponsor chooses it, and choosing it just to fit the rules is a compliance risk for them.
- Old figures. The thresholds rose on 22 July 2025, and many articles still quote £38,700.
- English. New applicants since 8 January 2026 need B2, up from B1.
Next steps
See what the salary leaves you after tax with the UK take-home pay calculator. If you’re planning ahead to settlement, track your trips with the ILR absence calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many points do I need for a Skilled Worker visa?
70. 50 come from the three mandatory requirements (sponsored job offer, skill level and English) and 20 from meeting the salary requirement.
What is the minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa in 2026?
For most new applicants it’s the higher of £41,700 a year and the going rate for the job. It can be lower (from £33,400) if you’re a new entrant, have a relevant PhD, or your job is on the Immigration Salary List.
Do bonuses or allowances count towards the salary?
No. Only guaranteed basic gross pay counts. Overtime, bonuses, and most allowances are excluded.
What English level do I need?
B2 on the CEFR scale for new applications from 8 January 2026. If you’re extending a visa you held before that date, B1 still applies. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries are exempt.
I was sponsored before 2024. Do these thresholds apply to me?
Not necessarily. People whose first certificate of sponsorship was assigned before 4 April 2024 may use lower transitional thresholds when they extend or change jobs. Check the guidance for your situation.
Is this legal advice?
No. It applies the published rules to the figures you enter. For your own case, check GOV.UK or speak to an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Skilled Worker visa – your job and salary
- GOV.UK: When you can be paid less
- GOV.UK: Knowledge of English
- GOV.UK: Appendix Skilled Occupations (going rates)
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