Rules 2
What counts towards your salary for a Skilled Worker visa
Only guaranteed basic gross pay, and other guaranteed payments treated exactly like it for tax, pension and National Insurance, count towards your salary.
| Figure | In force | Since | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly hours that count towards the salary rules | 48 hours | Start date not verified | SW 14.3 (gov.uk) |
| Hourly minimum inside the going rate | £17.13 | Appendix Skilled Occupations, Table 1 notes, as amended by HC 997 (gov.uk) |
The salary rules compare your pay with two figures, and only some kinds of pay count.
Only guaranteed basic pay counts
Salary means guaranteed basic gross pay, before income tax, including your own pension and National Insurance contributions. Other guaranteed payments count too, but only if they are treated exactly the same as basic gross pay for tax, pension and National Insurance purposes.
SW 14.1. Salary only includes guaranteed basic gross pay (before income tax and including employee pension and national insurance contributions) and other guaranteed payments which are treated exactly the same as basic gross pay for tax, pension and national insurance purposes .
That pay is measured against the general thresholdGeneral threshold The salary most Skilled Workers must usually be paid: £41,700 a year, or the going rate for the job if that is higher. It has applied since 22 July 2025., £41,700 a year, or the going rateGoing rate The yearly pay listed for each occupation code in Appendix Skilled Occupations. A Skilled Worker's salary must meet both the going rate for the job and the threshold that applies. for your job, whichever is higher. This entry is about which pay counts; a guide sets out the thresholds themselves, explained in full.
From bonuses to allowances
| Item | Counts? | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed basic gross pay, before income tax | Yes Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.1 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.1. Salary only includes guaranteed basic gross pay (before income tax and including employee pension and national insurance contributions) and other guaranteed payments which are treated exactly the same as basic gross pay for tax, pension and national insurance purposes . | SW 14.1 |
| Your own pension and National Insurance contributions | Yes, as part of gross pay Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.1 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.1. Salary only includes guaranteed basic gross pay (before income tax and including employee pension and national insurance contributions) and other guaranteed payments which are treated exactly the same as basic gross pay for tax, pension and national insurance purposes . | SW 14.1 |
| Other guaranteed payments | Only if treated exactly the same as basic gross pay for tax, pension and National Insurance Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.1 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.1. Salary only includes guaranteed basic gross pay (before income tax and including employee pension and national insurance contributions) and other guaranteed payments which are treated exactly the same as basic gross pay for tax, pension and national insurance purposes . | SW 14.1 |
| Pay for hours that fluctuate | No: pay that cannot be guaranteed because the nature of the job means that hours fluctuate Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.2. Salary does not include other pay and benefits, such as any of the following: | SW 14.2(a) |
| Shift, overtime and bonus pay | No: additional pay such as shift, overtime or bonus pay, whether or not it is guaranteed Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.2. Salary does not include other pay and benefits, such as any of the following: | SW 14.2(b) |
| Employer pension and National Insurance | No: employer pension and employer National Insurance contributions Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.2. Salary does not include other pay and benefits, such as any of the following: | SW 14.2(c) |
| Allowances, such as London weighting | No: allowances, such as accommodation or cost of living allowances; a transitional case is below Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied on(d) any allowances, such as accommodation or cost of living allowances; or | SW 14.2(d) |
| Benefits in kind | No: in-kind benefits, such as equity shares, health insurance, school or university fees, company cars or food Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.2. Salary does not include other pay and benefits, such as any of the following: | SW 14.2(e) |
| One-off payments | No: one-off payments, such as golden hellos Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.2. Salary does not include other pay and benefits, such as any of the following: | SW 14.2(f) |
| Payments for immigration costs | No: payments relating to immigration costs, such as the fee or Immigration Health Charge Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.2. Salary does not include other pay and benefits, such as any of the following: | SW 14.2(g) |
| Business expenses | No: payments to cover business expenses, such as travel to and from the applicant’s country of residence, equipment, clothing, travel or subsistence Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.2. Salary does not include other pay and benefits, such as any of the following: | SW 14.2(h) |
| Pay for hours beyond 48 hours a week | No Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.3 (gov.uk). The passage relied onSW 14.3. If the applicant is being sponsored to work more than 48 hours a week, subject to SW 14.3A, only the salary for the first 48 hours a week will be considered towards the salary thresholds referred to in the table following SW 4.4. | SW 14.3 |
The list in SW 14.2 gives examples, introduced by “such as”: an item of pay that is not on it still has to meet SW 14.1 to count.
Allowances: a transitional case ends
SW 14.5 keeps a transitional case. If the application is made on or before , salary may also include allowances, provided the conditions in SW 14.5 are met. One of them, in the rule’s words, is below.
(ii) the allowances are guaranteed, will be paid for the duration of the applicant’s permission, and would be paid to a local settled worker in similar circumstances, such as London weighting; and
Hours count up to a weekly cap
If you are sponsored to work more than 48 hours a week, only the salary for the first 48 hours a week counts towards the salary thresholds.
SW 14.3. If the applicant is being sponsored to work more than 48 hours a week, subject to SW 14.3A, only the salary for the first 48 hours a week will be considered towards the salary thresholds referred to in the table following SW 4.4.
Going rates are annual figures for a standard working week. They are pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly hours your sponsor states.
The going rate has an hourly minimum
Going rates carry a minimum of £17.13 an hour, since . If the hourly minimum works out above a reduced share of the going rate, such as the new-entrant share, it is still treated as that share.
For the avoidance of doubt, where £17.13 per hour calculates as more than 70%, 80% or 90% of the stated going rate, £17.13 will nevertheless be taken to be 70%, 80% or 90% of the going rate, as applicable.
The salary is paid in each pay period
If your certificate of sponsorshipCertificate of sponsorship (CoS) The reference a licensed sponsor gives a worker for one job, used to apply for a Skilled Worker visa. It lists the date the job is due to start. was issued on or after , you must be paid the required salary in pay periods of at least monthly frequency, or as your contract otherwise specifies.
SW 14.3B. A worker must be paid the required salary in pay periods of at least monthly frequency, or as otherwise specified in their contract, and:
SW 14.3B also sets tests on what is paid across each pay period and over longer spans. Applications using an earlier certificate are decided under the rules in force before that date.
Each figure in force is listed in the Rules section. The lower rates for new entrants are in after your course ends, and a sponsored job ending in if your sponsored job ends.
Ten example cases, with the salary each one counts, are worked through on the worked examples page.
History
- . Entry updated.
- . Entry first published.
Common questions
Does a bonus count towards the Skilled Worker salary threshold?
No. Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 14.2, leaves out additional pay such as shift, overtime or bonus pay, whether or not it is guaranteed.
Does London weighting count towards the Skilled Worker salary?
Allowances are left out of salary by SW 14.2. A transitional rule in SW 14.5 lets some applications made before a set date count guaranteed allowances, such as London weighting, if its conditions are met. The table above gives the date.
Does pay for hours over 48 hours a week count?
No. If you are sponsored to work more than 48 hours a week, only the salary for the first 48 hours a week counts towards the salary thresholds.
Is the Skilled Worker going rate pro-rated for different weekly hours?
Yes. Going rates are annual figures for a standard working week, and are pro-rated for the weekly working hours your sponsor states.
Sources
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
SW 14.1. Salary only includes guaranteed basic gross pay (before income tax and including employee pension and national insurance contributions) and other guaranteed payments which are treated exactly the same as basic gross pay for tax, pension and national insurance purposes .
SW 14.2. Salary does not include other pay and benefits, such as any of the following:
(d) any allowances, such as accommodation or cost of living allowances; or
(a) if the date of application is before 1 December 2026 salary may also include allowances (the other restrictions in SW 14.20 also apply), providing the following conditions are met:
(ii) the allowances are guaranteed, will be paid for the duration of the applicant’s permission, and would be paid to a local settled worker in similar circumstances, such as London weighting; and
SW 14.3B. A worker must be paid the required salary in pay periods of at least monthly frequency, or as otherwise specified in their contract, and:
SW 14.3. If the applicant is being sponsored to work more than 48 hours a week, subject to SW 14.3A, only the salary for the first 48 hours a week will be considered towards the salary thresholds referred to in the table following SW 4.4.
- Statement of Changes HC 1691 (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
The following paragraphs shall take effect on 8 April 2026. In relation to those changes, (i) if an application has been made using a certificate of sponsorship issued by a sponsor to an applicant before 8 April 2026; or (ii) if an application which does not require a certificate of sponsorship has been made before 8 April 2026; such applications will be decided in accordance with the Immigration Rules in force on 7 April 2026:
- Skilled Worker visa: Your job (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
You’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £41,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.
Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.
- Statement of Changes HC 997 (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
APP SW2. In row A of the table following SW 4.4, for “£38,700”, substitute “£41,700”.
For the avoidance of doubt, where £17.13 per hour calculates as more than 70%, 80% or 90% of the stated going rate, £17.13 will nevertheless be taken to be 70%, 80% or 90% of the going rate, as applicable.
- Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Occupations (gov.uk). Checked .
The passage relied on
Going rates in Table 1 are per year and based on a 37.5-hour working week. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by the applicant’s sponsor.
For the avoidance of doubt, where £17.13 per hour calculates as more than 70%, 80% or 90% of the stated going rate, £17.13 will nevertheless be taken to be 70%, 80% or 90% of the going rate, as applicable.
How each figure is checked: Sources and method.
This is general information about the rules, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).