Skilled Worker salary requirements and the occupation lists

The Immigration Salary List is a list of specified occupations used within particular Skilled Worker salary options. It can affect the way a qualifying salary is assessed, but inclusion does not remove the need to meet the other Skilled Worker requirements.

The Temporary Shortage List contains specified occupations that may be sponsored under time-limited provisions and conditions. The list, eligibility rules and relevant deadlines can change, so the current Appendix and Certificate of Sponsorship date must be checked.

No. Many Skilled Worker jobs qualify through the main eligible-occupation provisions without appearing on either list. The correct assessment begins with the occupation code, skill level and route rules rather than asking only whether the job appears on a shortage list.

No. The sponsor, role, salary, worker and Certificate of Sponsorship must still meet all applicable requirements. A listed occupation can still fail to qualify if another requirement is not met.

The assessment can involve the general salary requirement, the occupation's going rate, any minimum hourly requirement and the salary option relied upon. Transitional provisions may also apply. The correct combination depends on the case.

The going rate is the salary benchmark specified for an occupation in the Immigration Rules. It is separate from the general salary requirement, and the applicant will normally need to meet the applicable requirements under the salary option being used.

The treatment of part-time work depends on the relevant salary provision. Going rates may be adjusted by reference to weekly hours, but a general salary requirement may still apply to the actual annual pay. The calculation should be completed under the current rules rather than by applying a simple percentage reduction.

Salary calculations generally use guaranteed basic gross pay. Allowances, bonuses, benefits and payments that are not guaranteed will not normally count, subject to any specific rule or transitional provision.

Salary figures, eligible occupations and list arrangements can change. A static table can become misleading even when the page itself still looks current. UKU therefore explains the structure and checks the live rules for the proposed role and sponsorship date.