UK Immigration Salary List 2026: Full List of Jobs Eligible for Lower Salary Requirements
UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham.
The UK has published its latest Immigration Salary List, naming occupations that can qualify for a reduced salary requirement under the Skilled Worker visa route.
The list covers jobs in construction, science, healthcare, agriculture, fishing and the creative industries, with some occupations available across the UK and others restricted to specific nations.
For workers planning to move to the UK, appearing on the list can make a significant difference because eligible jobs can qualify under a salary threshold below the usual Skilled Worker requirement. The Home Office says the reduced rate is generally 80% of the route’s usual minimum salary rate, subject to the specific rules that apply to the applicant.
However, being on the Immigration Salary List does not automatically guarantee a visa. Applicants still need to meet the other Skilled Worker requirements, including having an eligible job with an approved sponsor.
Full UK Immigration Salary List for 2026
The current government list contains the following occupations:
- Fishing boat masters – Scotland only
- Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors – UK-wide
- Chemical scientists in the nuclear industry – Scotland only
- Biological scientists – UK-wide
- Archaeologists – UK-wide
- Graphic and multimedia designers – UK-wide
- Laboratory technicians requiring at least three years of related on-the-job experience – UK-wide
- Pharmaceutical technicians – UK-wide
- Artists – UK-wide
- Skilled classical ballet or contemporary dancers meeting specified industry standards – UK-wide
- Skilled orchestral musicians in qualifying positions – UK-wide
- Arts officers, producers and directors – UK-wide
- Fishing industry trades – UK-wide
- High-integrity pipe welders requiring at least three years of related experience – UK-wide
- Boat and ship builders and repairers – Scotland only
- Stonemasons and related trades – UK-wide
- Bricklayers – UK-wide
- Roofers, roof tilers and slaters – UK-wide
- Carpenters and joiners – UK-wide
- Retrofitters – UK-wide
- Specified animal-care roles, including racing grooms and stud workers – UK-wide
- Nursing auxiliaries and assistants – UK-wide
- Care workers and home carers – UK-wide, subject to additional conditions
- Senior care workers – UK-wide, subject to additional conditions
- Deckhands on large fishing vessels meeting the experience requirement – UK-wide.
The list contains 21 occupation codes, although some codes cover multiple specific job types or conditions.
Which jobs qualify across the whole UK?
A large proportion of the occupations are listed for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
These include biological scientists, archaeologists, graphic and multimedia designers, pharmaceutical technicians, artists, qualifying dancers and musicians, arts officers, fishing-industry roles, high-integrity pipe welders, stonemasons, bricklayers, roofers, carpenters, retrofitters, specified animal-care workers, nursing auxiliaries, care workers and senior care workers.
Some jobs have more limited geographical eligibility.
Fishing boat masters, chemical scientists working in the nuclear industry, and boat and ship builders and repairers are currently listed for Scotland only.
That geographical distinction matters when checking whether a particular job offer qualifies for the reduced salary rules.
What salary can an eligible worker earn?
The exact salary depends on the occupation and the applicant’s circumstances.
The government’s published salary table shows that jobs on the Immigration Salary List have specific standard and lower rates. The figures are based on a 37.5-hour working week and must be adjusted for different working patterns.
Some examples of the lower rates published by the Home Office include:
- Graphic and multimedia designers – £26,200
- Laboratory technicians meeting the experience requirement – £25,000
- Pharmaceutical technicians – £25,000
- Artists – £26,600
- Qualifying dancers – £28,500
- Bricklayers – £25,000
- Roofers – £25,000
- Carpenters and joiners – £27,800
- Retrofitters – £27,300
- Stonemasons – £28,500
- Arts officers, producers and directors – £28,800
- Nursing auxiliaries and assistants – £25,000
- Care workers and home carers – £25,000
- Senior care workers – £25,000.
These figures should not be treated as a universal salary requirement because the applicable rate depends on the occupation code and the applicant’s route and circumstances.
READ ALSO
UK Immigration: 5 Categories of Armed Forces Personnel Exempt From Immigration Control
UK Permanent Residence: What Scale-up Workers Must Do to Qualify
When will the occupations be removed from the list?
Most occupations on the current Immigration Salary List have a removal date of 31 December 2026.
There is an important exception for care workers and home carers and senior care workers, which currently have a removal date of 22 July 2028.
The government rules state that an occupation is included only where the application is made using a certificate of sponsorship issued before the removal date shown in the table.
This means applicants should check the rules and relevant dates carefully rather than assuming that a job will remain eligible indefinitely.
Special conditions apply to care jobs
Care occupations have additional restrictions that applicants need to understand.
For care workers and senior care workers working in England, the sponsor must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and must be carrying out a regulated activity.
The rules also state that private households or individuals generally cannot sponsor Skilled Worker applicants for these roles, apart from the specified sole-trader situation.
The Skilled Worker rules also place additional restrictions on new applications in these occupations, meaning simply finding a care job does not by itself establish eligibility for the visa.
Experience requirements could affect some applicants
Several jobs on the list have specific experience requirements.
Laboratory technicians must have at least three years of related on-the-job experience, while high-integrity pipe welders must also have three or more years of relevant experience.
The deckhand category applies to workers on large fishing vessels of at least nine metres who have at least three years of full-time experience using their skills.
The government specifies that the relevant experience for these categories must not have been gained through illegal working.
Creative occupations also have their own conditions. Qualifying dancers must meet standards set by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies, while eligible orchestral musicians must hold specified positions with orchestras that meet the required industry criteria.
Does being on the Immigration Salary List guarantee a UK visa?
No.
The Immigration Salary List only addresses the salary and occupation aspect of the Skilled Worker route.
The applicant still needs an eligible job offer from a Home Office-approved sponsor and must satisfy the wider Skilled Worker requirements. The route is designed for workers who have a job offer in an eligible skilled occupation from an approved sponsor.
Applicants also need to check whether their particular job matches the correct SOC 2020 occupation code. A job title alone may not be enough to establish eligibility.
Why the list matters to overseas workers
The Immigration Salary List can be particularly relevant to overseas professionals whose occupations fall below the standard salary threshold but are recognised by the government for reduced salary treatment.
For someone considering a UK job offer, the important checks are therefore not limited to whether the occupation appears on the list.
Applicants should verify the occupation code, location of the job, salary, sponsor status, experience requirements and any occupation-specific conditions before making a visa application.
The current list is also time-sensitive, with most of the listed occupations scheduled for removal at the end of 2026.
Frequently asked questions about the UK Immigration Salary List
What is the UK Immigration Salary List?
The Immigration Salary List identifies occupations where a reduced salary threshold can apply under the Skilled Worker route.
Which jobs are on the UK Immigration Salary List?
The list includes jobs such as bricklayers, carpenters, roofers, graphic and multimedia designers, biological scientists, artists, pharmaceutical technicians, care workers, senior care workers and selected fishing and creative-industry occupations.
Can Nigerians apply for jobs on the UK Immigration Salary List?
Nationality does not by itself prevent a person from applying. A Nigerian applicant would still need to meet the relevant Skilled Worker requirements, including securing an eligible job with an approved UK sponsor and meeting the applicable salary and other visa conditions.
What is the minimum salary for jobs on the Immigration Salary List?
There is no single salary for every occupation. The government publishes occupation-specific rates, and some eligible jobs have lower rates than the standard Skilled Worker salary requirement.
Are care workers still on the UK Immigration Salary List?
Yes. Care workers and senior care workers remain on the current list, with a stated removal date of 22 July 2028, subject to the restrictions in the immigration rules.
When will most Immigration Salary List jobs be removed?
Most occupations currently have a removal date of 31 December 2026. Care workers and senior care workers have a later date of 22 July 2028.
Can a bricklayer get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Bricklayers are currently included on the Immigration Salary List across the UK. However, the applicant still needs an eligible sponsored job and must satisfy the other Skilled Worker requirements.
Are graphic designers eligible for the UK Skilled Worker visa?
Graphic and multimedia designers are currently included on the Immigration Salary List across the UK. The occupation is listed under SOC 2020 code 2142.
Which UK Immigration Salary List jobs are Scotland-only?
The current list identifies fishing boat masters, chemical scientists working in the nuclear industry, and boat and ship builders and repairers as Scotland-only occupations.
Does an Immigration Salary List job lead directly to permanent residence?
Being on the list does not itself grant permanent residence. The Skilled Worker route is a route to settlement, but applicants must satisfy the separate settlement requirements.