New salary threshold for skilled workers in 2023

In the recent statement of changes HC118, the salary thresholds and going rates for individual occupations are being updated, based on the latest available UK salary data. Clarification is also being added to how salaries are considered when an applicant is working a pattern where the regular hours are not the same each week. These changes relate to the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, Scale-up and Seasonal Worker routes.

A change is being made to all work routes which require an applicant to have a specific job offer. The change means applications will be refused if the decision maker has reasonable grounds to believe the job does not comply

Skilled worker salary threshold 2023

Broadly speaking, a sponsored worker must be paid at, or above, the highest of either the relevant absolute minimum salary for their circumstances or the stated ‘going rate’ for the occupation code relevant to the job.

Typically, the minimum Skilled Worker salary level is £26,200 (increased from £25,600 in March 2023), unless the worker benefits from ‘tradeable points’, for example, if they have a job offer in a shortage occupation or they hold a relevant PhD qualification, in which case, the lowest minimum salary threshold under the Skilled Worker visa route is currently set at £20,480.

However, other factors may also apply and must be considered when determining the applicable minimum threshold:

• What is the relevant occupation code?
• Does the worker qualify as a ‘new entrant’?
• Does the worker benefit from ‘tradeable points’?
• How is the salary level calculated, based on the number of hours expected to be worked?

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