Appendix Skilled Occupations

In This Article

• What is Appendix Skilled Occupations?
• Which visa routes use this appendix?
• How the tables work
• Going rates and salary thresholds
• Salary components — what counts?
• SOC 2020 codes explained
• Reduced rates and who qualifies
• PhD salary allowances
• Pro-rating for part-time roles
• How this connects to your visa application
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Frequently asked questions
• Related terms

What is Appendix Skilled Occupations?

Appendix Skilled Occupations is a named appendix within the UK Immigration Rules — the legal framework governing who can work in the UK on a sponsored visa. It serves as the definitive reference for:

1. Which occupations qualify — only roles classified at RQF level 6 or above (broadly degree-level) are listed, making them eligible for sponsorship
2. What salary the role requires — each occupation has a "going rate" derived from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which sets the minimum salary a sponsor must pay
3. What reduced rates are available — percentage-based thresholds (70%, 80%, 90%) for applicants who can claim tradeable points under the points-based system
4. Which occupations are explicitly ineligible — certain roles are listed as not eligible for sponsorship, regardless of salary

If your job's SOC code does not appear in this appendix — or appears only as ineligible — it cannot be sponsored under the Skilled Worker route. The appendix is updated periodically as ASHE data is refreshed and the government reviews eligible occupations.

Which Visa Routes Use This Appendix?

Appendix Skilled Occupations is not only for the Skilled Worker visa. It is referenced by several immigration routes:

Each route has its own eligibility criteria beyond the appendix — but the appendix is the shared foundation for occupation eligibility and salary requirements.

How the Tables Work

Appendix Skilled Occupations contains several tables, each based on different earnings data and serving different applicant circumstances:

Table 1 — Median Rates

Table 1 uses median (50th percentile) earnings from ASHE. It covers points options A to E for the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, and Scale-up routes.

• These are the standard salary thresholds most applicants will use
• The minimum hourly rate floor is £17.13/hour — if the median going rate for a role calculates to less than this, £17.13/hour applies instead

Table 2 — 25th Percentile Rates

Table 2 uses 25th percentile earnings from ASHE, resulting in lower salary thresholds. It covers points options F to J.

• Applies to roles on the Immigration Salary List, certain Health and Care Worker roles, and applicants qualifying for new entrant rates
• The minimum hourly rate floor is £12.82/hour
• Also includes equivalent SOC 2010 codes for reference (useful for applicants whose previous visa used the old coding system)

Table 1a — Transitional Occupations

Table 1a lists additional occupation codes at RQF levels 3–5 (below degree-level). These are only available to applicants who held continuous permission before 22 July 2025 — they are not open to new applicants.

Healthcare and Education Exceptions

Some healthcare and education roles do not use standard ASHE going rates. Instead, their salary thresholds are pegged to national pay scales:

• NHS roles — referenced against NHS Agenda for Change pay bands
• Teaching roles — referenced against the national teachers' pay scales

For these occupations, the appendix notes that national pay scale rates apply rather than the ASHE-derived figures. If you are applying for a health or education role, check whether your SOC code falls into this category.

Going Rates and Salary Thresholds

The going rate is the core salary figure in Appendix Skilled Occupations. For each occupation code, the appendix lists:

Each rate is shown as both an annual salary and an hourly equivalent based on a standard 37.5-hour working week.

The rule is simple: your sponsor must pay you whichever is higher — the applicable going rate percentage for your occupation code, or the general minimum salary threshold for the route.

Salary Components — What Counts?

Not all pay elements count toward the going rate. The Home Office only considers guaranteed, fixed pay when assessing whether your salary meets the threshold:

Counts toward the going rate:

• Base salary (gross annual)
• Guaranteed allowances paid regularly (e.g. London weighting)

Does not count:

• Overtime pay (even if regularly worked)
• Bonuses and commission (even if contractually guaranteed)
• Benefits in kind (company car, private healthcare, stock options)
• Employer pension contributions
• One-off signing bonuses or relocation packages
• Tips, gratuities, or service charges

This distinction trips up many applicants and employers. A salary package that looks generous when bonuses and overtime are included may still fall short if the base pay alone does not meet the going rate. The Home Office assesses compliance based on the salary stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship, which must reflect guaranteed base pay only.

SOC 2020 Codes Explained

Every occupation in the appendix is identified by a SOC 2020 code — a four-digit Standard Occupational Classification code maintained by the Office for National Statistics.

Examples:

Your employer must identify the correct SOC code for the role they are sponsoring. The code determines:

• Whether the role is eligible at all (it must appear in the appendix)
• The going rate and salary thresholds
• Whether PhD points are available
• Whether the role appears on the Immigration Salary List (which unlocks Table 2 rates)

How to choose the right SOC code: Employers should match based on the actual duties and responsibilities of the role, not the job title. A "Marketing Manager" could map to different SOC codes depending on whether the role involves strategic planning, data analysis, or team management. The ONS provides a CASCOT (Computer Assisted Structured Coding Tool) to help identify the correct classification. Caseworkers are practised at identifying mismatched codes, and borderline cases receive no discretionary consideration — if the code does not match the duties, the application will be refused.

Use our UK Visa Occupation Eligibility tool to search for your SOC code, check its eligibility status, and view the exact going rate instantly.

Getting the SOC code wrong is one of the most common reasons for visa application problems — see SOC Code for more on how classification works.

Reduced Rates and Who Qualifies

Not every applicant needs to meet the full 100% going rate. The points-based system awards tradeable points that can offset a lower salary:

The 70% new entrant rate is the most commonly used discount. It has a floor of £30,960/year — even if 70% of the going rate calculates to less, the applicant must still be paid at least £30,960.

For full details on new entrant eligibility, see New Entrant Rate.

PhD Salary Allowances

Some occupation codes in the appendix are marked as PhD-eligible. For these roles, holding a PhD relevant to the job gives the applicant extra tradeable points under the points-based system.

In practice, this means:

• A PhD holder may qualify for the 80% going rate column instead of the full 100%
• The PhD must be relevant to the role being sponsored — a PhD in history will not help with a software engineering sponsorship
• Not all occupation codes allow PhD points — the appendix explicitly marks which ones do

This is particularly relevant for research and academic roles, but also applies to some STEM and healthcare positions.

Pro-rating for Part-Time Roles

The going rates in Appendix Skilled Occupations are based on a 37.5-hour working week. If the sponsored role involves fewer hours, the going rate is pro-rated downward proportionally.

Example: If the going rate for an occupation is £38,700/year (based on 37.5 hours/week) and the sponsored role is 30 hours/week:

Pro-rated going rate = £38,700 × (30 ÷ 37.5) = £30,960/year

The hourly rate must still meet the minimum — the pro-rating only affects the annual figure. Your sponsor states your working hours on the Certificate of Sponsorship, and the Home Office uses this to calculate whether your salary meets the threshold.

How This Connects to Your Visa Application

When you apply for a Skilled Worker visa, the Home Office checks your application against Appendix Skilled Occupations at several points:

1. Is the role eligible? — The SOC code on your Certificate of Sponsorship must appear in the appendix
2. Does the salary meet the going rate? — Your salary must meet or exceed the applicable going rate column (100%, 90%, 80%, or 70%) for that SOC code
3. Do you have enough points? — The salary/going rate combination determines which points options (A–E or F–J) you can claim, contributing to the 70-point total
4. For settlement (ILR) — Only the full 100% going rate applies, regardless of what discount you used for entry

If any of these checks fail, the application will be refused. This is why it is critical that your employer assigns the correct SOC code and pays a salary that meets the right threshold.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the wrong SOC code. Employers sometimes pick a code that broadly describes the role but does not match the actual duties. The Home Office can refuse the application if the code does not reflect the job. Always match by duties, not by job title — and retain documentation showing how the SOC code was selected.
• Counting bonuses or overtime toward the salary. Only guaranteed base pay counts. A salary package of £40,000 that includes £5,000 in expected bonuses is really £35,000 for going rate purposes. If that falls below the threshold, the application will be refused.
• Confusing Table 1 and Table 2. Table 2 rates are lower but only available in specific circumstances (Immigration Salary List roles, new entrants, Health and Care Worker visas). Using Table 2 rates when you do not qualify will result in a salary shortfall.
• Forgetting to pro-rate. If the role is part-time, the going rate must be adjusted for hours. Failing to pro-rate (or pro-rating incorrectly) can make a salary appear compliant when it is not.
• Assuming the going rate is the only threshold. Your salary must meet both the going rate for your SOC code and the general minimum salary threshold for the route. If the general threshold is higher, that applies instead.
• Not checking for updates. The appendix is updated periodically — going rates change when new ASHE data is published, and occupation codes can be added or removed. Always check the current version before applying.
• Relying on the new entrant rate at settlement. The 70% discount is only for entry and extension applications. When you apply for ILR after five years, you must meet the full 100% going rate.
• Mismatching the CoS and the appendix. The SOC code and salary on the Certificate of Sponsorship must align with what the appendix requires. If the employer enters a different code or a salary that does not match the corresponding going rate, the application will fail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Appendix Skilled Occupations?

Appendix Skilled Occupations is the section of the UK Immigration Rules that lists every occupation code eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. For each occupation it provides the SOC 2020 code, example job titles, the going rate (minimum salary), and reduced-rate thresholds at 70%, 80%, and 90% for applicants who qualify for tradeable points.

How do I find the going rate for my job?

Look up your role's SOC 2020 occupation code in Appendix Skilled Occupations. The going rate is listed as an annual salary and hourly equivalent based on a 37.5-hour working week. Your employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for your occupation code, or the general salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route. If you work fewer than 37.5 hours, the going rate is pro-rated down proportionally. You can also use our UK Visa Occupation Eligibility tool to search for any SOC code and see its going rate instantly.

What is the difference between Table 1 and Table 2?

Table 1 uses median earnings data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) and covers points options A to E. Table 2 uses 25th percentile ASHE data and covers points options F to J, offering lower salary thresholds. Table 2 applies to roles on the Immigration Salary List, certain Health and Care Worker visa roles, and applicants qualifying for new entrant rates. Table 2 also includes equivalent SOC 2010 codes for reference.

What happens if my occupation is not listed?

If your occupation does not appear in Appendix Skilled Occupations, it cannot be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route. Some roles are explicitly listed as ineligible. In this case, you may want to explore alternative visa routes such as the Global Talent visa, Graduate Route, or High Potential Individual visa, depending on your circumstances. It is also worth checking whether the role could be classified under a different SOC code that does appear in the appendix — the key factor is the actual duties and responsibilities, not the job title.

Can I be paid less than the going rate if I have a PhD?

Not exactly less — but a PhD can give you extra tradeable points, which means you may qualify for a lower salary threshold while still meeting the 70-point requirement. Only certain occupation codes in Appendix Skilled Occupations are marked as PhD-eligible. If your role qualifies and you hold a relevant PhD, you can claim additional points that offset a lower salary. The going rate column in the appendix shows which codes allow this.

Related Terms

• SOC Code
• Going Rate
• Skilled Worker Visa
• RQF Level
• Immigration Salary List
• New Entrant Rate
• Points-Based Immigration System
• Certificate of Sponsorship
• Health and Care Worker Visa

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