Immigration Salary List: Everything You Need to Know in 2024

October 8, 2024

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Navigating the UK immigration system can be challenging, especially when it comes to understanding salary requirements for various visa types. Whether you're an employer seeking to hire international talent or an individual applying for a UK work visa, the immigration salary list is a critical resource. This list outlines the salary thresholds required for certain jobs to be eligible for sponsorship under the UK’s visa system.

In this article, we will explore the latest updates to the immigration salary list, how to use it, and the benefits of having a role on the list in 2024.

What is the UK Immigration Salary List?

The UK immigration salary list is a set of salary thresholds established by the UK government to determine whether a particular job role qualifies for visa sponsorship. It ensures that migrant workers are compensated fairly and that the positions being filled meet the economic needs of the country.

This list is essential for both employers and visa applicants. Employers must ensure that the roles they offer meet the minimum salary requirements for sponsorship, while applicants must ensure their job offers align with these government-mandated salary criteria. Employers interested in applying for a sponsor licence can learn more about the process through our guide on the sponsor licence application.

Why Does the Immigration Salary List Exist?

The immigration salary list serves several key purposes:

Protecting the UK labor market by ensuring that foreign workers are paid at competitive rates.
Ensuring visa compliance for employers and applicants, thereby reducing the risk of underpayment or exploitation.
Streamlining the visa application process, making it easier to assess whether a role is eligible for sponsorship based on salary alone.

If you're unsure whether your role meets these criteria, you can check if you need a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) or see if your sponsor licence number is valid.

Immigration Salary List Minimum Thresholds

As of 2024, significant changes have been made to the salary thresholds for roles on the immigration salary list. These changes reflect the UK's commitment to maintaining fair compensation for migrant workers and adjusting salary requirements to keep pace with rising wages.

For a quick and easy way to check if your job meets the required salary threshold, try our Minimum Salary Calculator.

Key Changes in Minimum Salary Thresholds

General Salary Threshold for Immigration Salary List Occupations:
Occupations on the immigration salary list must now meet a general salary threshold of £30,960 or the specific occupation’s salary threshold, whichever is higher. This marks a departure from previous years, where a 20% "going rate" salary discount was applied to certain roles. The removal of this discount means employers must now offer higher salaries to meet sponsorship criteria.
Salary Thresholds for Occupations Not on the Immigration Salary List:
For roles not on the immigration salary list, the minimum earnings threshold has increased by 48%. This change is designed to keep pace with broader UK wage trends, making it more challenging to hire foreign workers in these roles unless they meet the new, higher thresholds.
Skilled Worker Route Threshold:
The general salary threshold for those arriving via the Skilled Worker route has risen to £38,700. Employers hiring via the Skilled Worker visa need to ensure that they meet this requirement.
Occupation-Specific Thresholds:
Each occupation now has its own specific "going rate," based on the median full-time salary for the role. This ensures that migrant workers are paid competitively, in line with their UK-based counterparts. Some occupations also follow the national pay scale where applicable.

Impact on Employers and Applicants

These updated salary thresholds mean employers must now offer more competitive salaries when hiring foreign workers. For visa applicants, it is crucial to ensure that job offers meet these increased thresholds, as failing to do so could result in visa refusals. If you’re unsure how this affects your application, you can calculate your visa costs using our visa fees calculator to get a better understanding of the total expenses.

Try out the calculator for yourself

How to Use the UK Immigration Salary List

Understanding how to use the UK immigration salary list is essential for both employers and applicants. Here’s how you can navigate it:

For Employers:

Identify the Job Role: Find the appropriate SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification) for the role you’re offering. You can read more about how to determine your SOC code for the job in question.
Check Salary Requirements: Verify that the salary you’re offering meets or exceeds the threshold for the specific job.
Submit Proper Documentation: Ensure that the salary information in the visa application matches the job offer and aligns with the immigration salary list. If you're responsible for visa management, you may also need to use the sponsor management system (SMS) to make sure your compliance records are up to date.

For Visa Applicants:

Verify Your Offer: Make sure your job offer meets the salary threshold for your role and SOC Code.
Collect Supporting Documents: Ensure your employer can provide the necessary documentation, including proof of salary and job duties.

By following these steps, both employers and applicants can ensure that they meet the salary requirements, which is key to avoiding visa delays or refusals.

Benefits of a Role Being on the Immigration Salary List

Being on the immigration salary list offers certain advantages for employers hiring overseas workers, though recent changes have impacted the scope of these benefits.

1. Lower Salary Thresholds for Eligible Roles

The primary advantage is that employers can hire foreign workers for roles on the immigration salary list at up to 20% below the general salary threshold. This makes it more cost-effective to sponsor workers for jobs in critical sectors. However, with the removal of the 20% discount, the benefit has become more limited.

2. Potentially Reduced Visa Fees

In some cases, roles on the immigration salary list may have reduced visa fees, but this reduction is relatively minor compared to overall hiring costs. For example, roles on the Health and Care Worker visa already benefit from lower visa fees and therefore won't see much additional benefit.

3. Strategic Importance

Beyond the technical advantages, the government may use the immigration salary list as a tool to support priority sectors or broader economic policies. For instance, the list could play a vital role in sectors with high societal value or those linked to government priorities, such as healthcare, technology, or research.

4. Reevaluating the List’s Role

There is ongoing discussion about the future of the immigration salary list. Some argue that its role in immigration policy is diminishing, given the removal of the Resident Labour Market Test and the cap on work visas. The government may reconsider the list's broader purpose or even potentially abolish it for roles where inclusion no longer provides significant benefits.

Which Roles Are on the Immigration Salary List in 2024?

In 2024, several key roles remain on the UK immigration salary list, each with its own specific salary threshold. Below is an overview of some of the primary roles:

Occupation code	Job types included on the immigration salary list	Areas of the UK which qualify	Standard rate	Lower rate
1212	Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services – only “fishing boat masters”	Scotland only	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,200 (£12.92 per hour)
2111	Chemical scientists – only jobs in the nuclear industry	Scotland only	£35,200 (£18.05 per hour)	£29,600 (£15.18 per hour)
2112	Biological scientists – all jobs	UK wide	£38,000 (£19.49 per hour)	£28,100 (£14.41 per hour)
2115	Social and humanities scientists – only archaeologists	UK wide	£36,400 (£18.67 per hour)	£25,200 (£12.92 per hour)
2142	Graphic and multimedia designers – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,100 (£12.87 per hour)
3111	Laboratory technicians – only jobs requiring 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
3212	Pharmaceutical technicians – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,400 (£12.00 per hour)
3411	Artists – all jobs	UK wide	£32,800 (£16.82 per hour)	£25,900 (£13.28 per hour)
3414	Dancers and choreographers – only skilled classical ballet dancers or skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies. The company must be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a UK industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland or Wales).	UK wide	£31,200 (£16.00 per hour)	£30,000 (£15.38 per hour)
3415	Musicians – only skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by internationally recognised UK orchestras. The orchestra must be a full member of the Association of British Orchestras.	UK wide	£35,300 (£18.10 per hour)	£30,400 (£15.59 per hour)
3416	Arts officers, producers and directors – all jobs	UK wide	£37,500 (£19.23 per hour)	£31,300 (£16.05 per hour)
5119	Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified – only jobs in the fishing industry	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
5213	Welding trades – only high integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3 or more years’ related on-the-job experience. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.	UK wide	£31,700 (£16.26 per hour)	£26,400 (£13.54 per hour)
5235	Boat and ship builders and repairers – all jobs	Scotland only	£34,100 (£17.49 per hour)	£26,300 (£13.49 per hour)
5312	Stonemasons and related trades – all jobs	UK wide	£32,400 (£16.62 per hour)	£26,200 (£13.44 per hour)
5313	Bricklayers – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,600 (£13.13 per hour)
5314	Roofers, roof tilers and slaters – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
5316	Carpenters and joiners – all jobs	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,200 (£12.92 per hour)
5319	Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified – only retrofitters	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£25,500 (£13.08 per hour)
6135	Care workers and home carers – all jobs, except jobs with a working location in England are only eligible in this SOC 2020 occupation code where the sponsor holds registration with the Care Quality Commission and is currently carrying on a regulated activity. Private households or individuals (other than sole traders sponsoring someone to work for their business) cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants.	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
6136	Senior care workers – all jobs, except jobs with a working location in England are only eligible in this SOC 2020 occupation code where the sponsor holds registration with the Care Quality Commission and is currently carrying on a regulated activity.	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
6129	Animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified – only racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)
9119	Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified – only deckhands on large fishing vessels (9 metres and above) where the job requires the worker to have at least 3 years’ full-time experience in using their skills. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.	UK wide	£30,960 (£15.88 per hour)	£23,200 (£11.90 per hour)

These roles represent some of the highest-demand occupations in the UK, and the immigration salary list plays a crucial role in determining visa eligibility. You can find more detailed information about SOC Codes and specific salaries in our SOC code guide.

Conclusion

The immigration salary list is a vital part of the UK immigration system, helping to regulate which job roles qualify for visa sponsorship. As salary thresholds increase, both employers and applicants must ensure they meet the updated requirements to secure a successful visa application. For employers, offering competitive salaries and understanding the nuances of the salary list can significantly impact their ability to hire foreign workers.

If you are unsure whether your job qualifies, feel free to get in touch with us for expert advice on immigration salary thresholds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happens if my salary doesn’t meet the required threshold?
If your salary doesn’t meet the required threshold, your visa application may be refused. However, some exceptions exist for shortage occupations.

Q2: Are there exceptions to the salary requirements?
Yes, exceptions apply for jobs on the Shortage Occupation List, where lower salary thresholds may be accepted.

Q3: How often is the Immigration Salary List updated?
The immigration salary list is reviewed annually, and any updates are typically published by the UK Home Office in response to economic changes.

Q4: Do bonuses count toward salary thresholds?
No, bonuses and other benefits are not usually counted when determining if the salary meets the minimum threshold.