Changes to Salaries for Skilled Workers UK

Salary thresholds for skilled workers are being raised from existing levels. This is in line with objective to curb the inward immigration stated in the White Paper released in May 2025. Further, STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION RULES (HC 997), released on 1 July 2025, state the exact changes in the salary threshold for occupations on the UK skilled worker route.

The new salary threshold will be effective for CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) issued on or after 22 July 2025.

Changes in Salary Threshold on Skilled Worker Route

The changes in Appendix Skilled Worker route Paragraph SW 4.4 are the following:

1. Option A – Existing Requirement - The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:

• £38,700 per year; and
• the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

Option A – New Requirement - The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:

• £41,700 per year; and
• the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

2. Option B – Existing Requirement - The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £34,830 per year; and
• 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

Option B – New Requirement - The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £37,500 per year; and
• 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

3. Option C – Existing Requirement - The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £30,960 per year; and
• 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

Option C – New Requirement - The applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £33,400 per year; and
• 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

4. Option D – Existing Requirement - The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £30,960 per year; and
• the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code

Option D – New Requirement - The applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £33,400 per year; and
• the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code

5. Option E – Existing Requirement - The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £30,960 per year and
• 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

Option E – New Requirement - The applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £33,400 per year and
• 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

6. Option F – Existing Requirement - The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:

• £29,000 per year; and
• the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

Option F – New Requirement - The applicant’s salary equals or exceeds both:

• £31,300 per year; and
• the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

7. Option G – Existing Requirement - The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £26,100 per year; and
• 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

Option G – New Requirement - The applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job and their salary equals or exceeds both:

• £28,200 per year; and
• 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

Care Workers Withdrawal from Eligible Occupations List - Taking Effect on 22 July 2025

Applications for entry clearance for SOC codes 6135 (care workers) and 6136 (senior care workers) will be ended from 22 July 2025.

However, there will be transition period where employees will be able to switch in-country into these codes until 22 July 2028, but only where they have already worked for their sponsoring provider for at least three months. Care worker and Senior Care Worker roles will disappear completely from all shortage lists after July 2028.

Changes to Salary on Appendix Global Business Mobility routes

Salary threshold for roles on Global Business Mobility routes will rise to £52,500 from £48,500.

Changes to Salary Appendix Scale-Up Worker Route

Salary threshold for roles on Global Business Mobility routes will rise to £39,100 from £36,300.

Impact of New Salary Thresholds on Sponsors

For sponsors, the most immediate consequence is the need to raise headline pay offers, for example, increasing the general salary threshold to £41,700 per year from £38,700 per year. Employers will need to review salaries across the options under the paragraph SW 4.4 that they will quote in the CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) issued after 21 July and budget for the necessary hike. Job roles that cleared the existing salary threshold may now fall short. In this event, unless the sponsors can uplift the salary levels, they will not be eligible to assign sponsorships for vacancies under the skilled worker route.

Impact on Skilled Worker Visa Extension Applications

There are no transitional provisions available for skilled workers extending their skilled worker visa or changing their sponsor after 22 July 2025. Extension applicants will need to satisfy the new increased thresholds, unless their application relies on a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) issued before 22 July 2025.

Only extension applications that will use a CoS assigned before 22 July 2025 can still be judged against the earlier, lower salary threshold.

Conclusion

UK employers have little time to review and make any adjustments in order to comply with the new Appendix Skilled Worker rules. The new salary regime will come into effect on 22 July 2025. From this date, every Skilled Worker Certificate of Sponsorship issued by employers, every skilled worker extension supported by employers, and every skilled worker to ILR application endorsed by employers will be assessed against the new salary thresholds and going rates. Therefore, employers need to act swiftly to protect their sponsor licence and their employees’ right to remain in the UK.