UK Skilled Worker Visa Salary Requirement 2026: What Bangladeshi Applicants Must Earn

The salary requirement for the UK Skilled Worker visa is not a single number. It is the higher of two figures: the general threshold (currently £41,700) or the going rate for your specific occupation code. Bangladeshi professionals often discover this distinction only after negotiating an offer that meets the headline figure but misses the occupation-specific minimum.

The General Threshold

As of July 22, 2025, the general salary threshold is £41,700 per year. This applies to most new Skilled Worker applicants and replaced the previous threshold of £38,700.

The hourly rate floor is £17.13 per hour. If your contract hours deviate from the standard 37.5-hour week used to set going rates, the hourly floor may become the binding constraint.

The Going Rate: Why £41,700 Is Not Always Enough

Every SOC occupation code has a "going rate" — the benchmark salary derived from ONS earnings data for that specific profession in the UK. Your actual salary must meet both:

• The general threshold: £41,700
• The going rate for your specific SOC code

Whichever is higher becomes the minimum you must be paid.

Examples:

• Software Developer (SOC 2134): Going rate £49,400. You must be paid at least £49,400 even though it exceeds £41,700. An offer of £44,000 fails.
• Civil Engineer (SOC 2121): Going rate depends on seniority. A junior civil engineer going rate may be close to £41,700; a senior role may be £55,000+.
• Registered Nurse (SOC 2231) on H&CW route: Going rate approximately £31,300. The general threshold does not apply under the Health and Care Worker sub-route; the going rate for the specific clinical band applies instead.

Before accepting any offer, identify your exact SOC code and look up the current going rate. This information is published in the official Skilled Worker visa appendix.

Pro-Rating for Different Working Hours

Going rates are set based on a 37.5-hour working week. If your contract is for different hours, the going rate is adjusted proportionally.

If you work 40 hours per week: Your required salary is higher than the standard going rate, because you are working more hours than the benchmark. The calculation: (going rate / 37.5) × 40 = your required salary.

The hourly floor applies as a backstop: No matter the calculation, your effective hourly rate cannot fall below £17.13.

If you work less than 37.5 hours: The going rate is reduced proportionally. However, the general £41,700 threshold is not reduced. A part-time Skilled Worker arrangement can work but requires careful SOC code analysis.

Discounts Available — Tradeable Points

If your salary falls below the general £41,700 threshold, you may still qualify by trading other characteristics for points. These are called "tradeable points."

New Entrant discount (£33,400 threshold): Available if you are:

• Under 26 years old
• Switching from a Student or Graduate visa (having studied in the UK)
• In a postdoctoral position

The new entrant discount is not automatic — you must meet one of these specific conditions. It is limited to a cumulative 4-year period across your immigration history. After 4 years as a "new entrant," any extension requires the full threshold.

PhD in a relevant field (£37,500 threshold): If you hold a PhD directly related to the role, the threshold reduces to £37,500. The connection between the PhD and the job must be demonstrable.

STEM PhD (£33,400 threshold): If your PhD is in a STEM subject and the role is in the same technical area, the threshold drops further to £33,400.

Immigration Salary List (ISL) roles (£33,400 threshold): Certain shortage occupations on the Immigration Salary List have reduced thresholds. Check whether your SOC code appears on the current ISL. Note that roles move on and off this list — verify the current version, not one from 2024.

Salary Compliance Throughout the Year

From April 2026, new pay-period rules require salary compliance to be assessed on a per-pay-period basis, not just as an annual average. This means an employer cannot pay below-threshold salary for 6 months and then compensate with a bonus that brings the annual total above threshold. Each payslip must meet the minimum.

Bangladeshi applicants whose employment involves variable pay structures — sales bonuses, commission-heavy roles — should ensure their base salary alone meets the threshold, not their total expected compensation.

Practical Implications for Bangladeshi Professionals

The salary thresholds effectively exclude most entry-level roles. The realistic entry points for Bangladeshi professionals are:

• IT (software development, cybersecurity, data): typically £45,000-£65,000+ for sponsored roles
• Healthcare (NHS nursing): £31,300+ under the H&CW route
• Engineering: £40,000-£55,000+ depending on discipline and seniority
• Finance and accounting: £42,000-£55,000+ for qualified roles

Roles below these ranges will generally not satisfy either the general threshold or the going rate for professional-level positions.

The Bangladesh to UK Skilled Worker Guide includes a worked calculation tool for the higher-of-two rule, a reference table of going rates for the SOC codes most commonly filled by Bangladeshi applicants, and guidance on how the new entrant discount applies to recent graduates of Bangladeshi universities.

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