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The going rate is one of the most important salary benchmarks UK employers must understand before sponsoring a worker on a Skilled Worker visa. It sits alongside the general salary threshold and determines the minimum you must pay for each specific occupation. This guide explains how the going rate works in 2025, what tradeable points mean in practice, and what employers need to check before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship.
For related support, explore Annaizu’s sponsorship compliance software, secure document management and Sponsor Management System support.
Key Takeaways
Essential Points for Employers
- The going rate is the minimum salary set for each occupation code under the Skilled Worker visa route.
- Employers must pay whichever is higher - the general threshold or the going rate for the specific role.
- Tradeable points allow some workers to be sponsored below the standard going rate in defined circumstances.
- Going rates are tied to SOC 2020 occupation codes and are updated periodically by the Home Office.
- Paying below the going rate without a valid tradeable concession is a sponsorship compliance breach.
What Is the Skilled Worker Going Rate?
The going rate is the minimum hourly or annual salary set by the Home Office for each occupation under the Skilled Worker visa. It is based on the 25th percentile of UK earnings for that occupation code, sourced from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
Every occupation eligible under the Skilled Worker route has its own going rate. Employers cannot simply pay the general threshold and assume compliance - they must also meet the role-specific going rate for the SOC 2020 code assigned to the job.
Going Rate vs General Salary Threshold
From April 2024, the general salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas rose to £41,700 per year for most roles. However, the going rate for a specific occupation may be higher or lower than this figure. The rule is straightforward: the worker must be paid whichever amount is higher - the general threshold or the occupation-specific going rate.
For example, if the going rate for a particular engineering role is £42,000, the employer must pay at least £42,000, even though the general threshold is £41,700.
How the Points-Based System Works for Salary
The Skilled Worker route operates on a points-based system. Applicants must score 70 points in total. Salary is a tradeable characteristic, meaning certain workers can be sponsored at a lower salary if they meet other qualifying conditions.
Mandatory Points
- Job offer from an approved sponsor - 20 points
- Job at the required skill level (RQF3 or above) - 20 points
- English language requirement met - 10 points
Tradeable Points for Salary
The remaining 20 points must come from salary. The standard route awards 20 points for meeting both the general threshold and the going rate. Tradeable points allow workers in certain situations to qualify with a lower salary by offsetting against other characteristics.
- Salary at or above the going rate and general threshold - 20 points
- Salary 10% below the going rate - 0 points (unless a tradeable concession applies)
- New entrant to the labour market - may qualify at 70% of the going rate
- Role on the Immigration Salary List - may qualify at 80% of the going rate
- PhD relevant to the role - additional concession applies
New Entrant Rate in 2025
Workers who qualify as new entrants to the labour market can be sponsored at 70% of the going rate for their occupation. The new entrant rate applies in the following circumstances.
Who Qualifies as a New Entrant?
- The worker is under 26 years old at the time of application.
- The worker is switching from a student visa or graduate visa.
- The worker is in a role that is part of a recognised graduate training programme.
- The worker is sponsored in a role that requires professional registration and they are working towards that registration.
New entrant status is temporary. Workers cannot remain on the new entrant rate indefinitely. Once they no longer meet the qualifying conditions, the full going rate must apply.
Immigration Salary List
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) replaced the Shortage Occupation List in April 2024. Roles on the ISL attract a 20% discount against the going rate, meaning workers in those occupations can be sponsored at 80% of the standard going rate.
How the ISL Discount Works
If a role appears on the Immigration Salary List, the employer must still pay whichever is higher - 80% of the going rate or the general threshold of £41,700. The ISL discount does not override the general threshold, so employers should check both figures before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship.
The ISL is reviewed periodically by the Migration Advisory Committee. Employers should check whether a role remains on the list at the point of sponsorship, as occupations can be added or removed.
How to Find the Going Rate for a Specific Role
The going rate for each occupation is published in the Home Office's official list of eligible occupations and corresponding salary requirements. This document is updated when thresholds change and is available on gov.uk.
Steps to Check the Going Rate
- Identify the correct SOC 2020 occupation code for the role you are sponsoring.
- Check the Home Office eligible occupations document for the going rate assigned to that code.
- Compare the going rate against the general threshold of £41,700.
- Confirm whether the role appears on the Immigration Salary List.
- Determine whether a new entrant or PhD concession applies.
- Set the salary at or above the higher of the applicable figures.
Salary Compliance and Sponsor Duties
Paying below the going rate without a valid tradeable concession is a breach of sponsor licence obligations. The Home Office can take compliance action against sponsors who underpay workers, including downgrading or revoking the sponsor licence.
What Employers Must Record
- Evidence that the salary meets or exceeds the going rate at the point of CoS assignment.
- Records of any tradeable concession applied and the reason it was used.
- Payroll records confirming the worker has been paid the stated salary throughout their permission.
- Documentation of any salary changes and whether updated CoS was required.
Salary Changes During Sponsorship
If a sponsored worker's salary drops below the going rate during their employment - for example due to a role change or reduced hours - the employer must act promptly. Depending on the nature of the change, a new Certificate of Sponsorship and visa application may be required. Sponsors must report material changes through the Sponsor Management System.
Going Rates for Common Occupations in 2025
The following are examples of going rates for frequently sponsored occupations. These figures are based on the Home Office eligible occupations list and should be verified against the current published document at the point of sponsorship.
Health and Care Roles
- Nurses (SOC 2231) - going rate set by NHS pay scales; currently £29,970 per year at Band 5 entry, though the general threshold applies.
- Care workers (SOC 6145) - removed from the ISL for overseas recruitment; standard going rate and general threshold apply.
- Medical practitioners (SOC 2211) - going rate aligned to NHS consultant and specialty doctor pay bands.
Technology and Engineering Roles
- Software developers (SOC 2136) - going rate typically above the general threshold; employers should check the current figure.
- Civil engineers (SOC 2121) - going rate varies by specialism within the code.
- IT business analysts (SOC 2135) - going rate at or above the general threshold for most sub-roles.
Education Roles
- Secondary school teachers (SOC 2314) - going rate aligned to national teacher pay scales.
- Further education teachers (SOC 2315) - separate going rate applies; check the eligible occupations document.
Part-Time and Hourly Rate Calculations
The going rate can be expressed as an annual salary or an hourly rate. For part-time sponsored workers, the going rate is calculated on a pro-rata basis. The hourly rate must not fall below the going rate threshold when annualised to full-time equivalent hours.
How to Calculate the Hourly Going Rate
The Home Office publishes hourly going rates alongside annual figures. To check compliance for a part-time worker, divide the annual going rate by 52 weeks and then by the standard full-time hours for the role. If the worker's actual hourly rate meets or exceeds this figure, the going rate is satisfied.
Employers should document the calculation clearly in their sponsorship records, particularly where part-time arrangements are in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the going rate for a Skilled Worker visa in 2025?
The going rate varies by occupation code. It is the minimum salary set for each specific role based on the 25th percentile of UK earnings for that occupation. Employers must pay the higher of the general threshold (£41,700) or the occupation-specific going rate. The current figures are published in the Home Office eligible occupations document on gov.uk.
Can I pay below the going rate if I use tradeable points?
Yes, in limited circumstances. New entrants to the
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