The UK Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have published the updated Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) salary going rates for 2026. This comprehensive analysis breaks down exact thresholds, new entrant discounts, and practical actions for workers and employers.
Help fellow immigrants, students, and employers stay informed with verified updates.
What Happened: The Key Facts
The Home Office has released updated caseworker guidance and salary tables governing the Skilled Worker route. While the baseline general salary threshold remains anchored at £38,700 gross per annum (or the 50th percentile of the occupational going rate, whichever is higher), specific occupation codes have received indexed going rate revisions. The transitional arrangements for workers continuously sponsored prior to April 2024 remain protected at the 25th percentile threshold.
“In the official UKVI guidance update, the Home Office confirmed: "Sponsors must ensure that Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned on or after the effective date meet the updated standard occupational code going rate or the general threshold. Transitional salary protections will continue to apply to existing permission holders extending with their current sponsor or switching to a new qualifying sponsor under pre-April 2024 rules."”
Who Is Affected?
What This Means For You
We translate complicated UK Home Office policy and tribunal rulings into clear, personalized impacts across different visa circumstances.
Skilled Workers
Work SponsorshipIf you are already in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa granted before April 2024, your extensions remain grandfathered under transitional lower salary thresholds.
- General minimum salary threshold is £38,700 gross per year across standard SOC codes.
- New Entrant Discount (30% reduction down to £30,960) remains active for applicants under 26, recent UK graduates, or those working toward chartered professional qualifications.
- Existing Skilled Worker visa holders under transitional arrangements continue to be assessed under lower pre-2024 thresholds (£29,000 baseline).
- Employers must verify that Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) salary figures match or exceed the exact hourly rate (£15.88/hour minimum floor) alongside annual sums.
The revised salary going rate tables take immediate effect for all new Certificates of Sponsorship assigned from this month. Pending applications submitted before the change date will be assessed under the rules in force on the submission timestamp. Sponsors and applicants should verify exact SOC code line items before submission.
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How Will This Update Affect You?
Share your questions or practical experience. Comments are moderated to prevent misinformation.
My employer just assigned my CoS using the new 2026 SOC going rate table. The key was ensuring that both the annual figure and the minimum hourly rate were explicitly stated in the sponsor notes.
As an MSc graduate switching before my Graduate visa expires, does the 30% new entrant discount apply for the full 3 years of initial sponsorship?
Important Legal Notice: UK immigration rules, thresholds, and policy guidance are subject to frequent change by the Home Office. This article provides journalistic reporting and general educational analysis and does not constitute formal legal advice. Always verify your individual situation with official GOV.UK guidance or consult a regulated immigration advisor.