Appendix Skilled Occupations Guide

What is Appendix Skilled Occupations?

Appendix Skilled Occupations is a document published on the UK Home Office website that sets out which jobs can be sponsored under the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, and Scale-up routes. For each eligible role, it lists the SOC 2020 occupation code, examples of related job titles, and the applicable going rate salary for each occupation code. The table you need to use depends mainly on the salary option that applies, whether you are applying under the current rules or transitional rules, and whether any special salary arrangements apply to your role (such as national pay scales for healthcare and teaching occupations).

Understanding the ‘going rate’ for the role is particularly important. Skilled Worker visa applicants must know the going rate for their role and adjust it based on their working hours. This figure is then compared with the applicable general salary threshold. The higher of the two determines the minimum salary that must be paid. Failure to get this right will result in the visa being refused, either when making an initial application or at the point of renewal.

Appendix Skilled Occupations is updated by the Home Office when immigration policies change. This means occupation codes, going rates, and eligible roles may also change over time. It is therefore advisable to check the latest version of the appendix before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship or submitting a visa application.

What Appendix Skilled Occupations means for employers and applicants

Appendix Skilled Occupations is a practical tool for both employers and UK Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, and Scale-up visa applicants.

For employers, it can be used to:

• Check whether a specific job can be sponsored under the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, or Scale-up route.
• Identify the minimum salary required to sponsor a worker, and confirm whether the organisation can meet that salary requirement
• Ultimately, define their hiring strategy, including whether recruiting from overseas is financially viable for a particular role

For applicants, it can be used to:

• Check whether the job they have been offered or they are looking for can be sponsored
• Understand the minimum salary they need to receive in order to be eligible for a Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, or Scale-up visa
• Reduce the risk of a visa refusal caused by an incorrect SOC code or a salary calculated at the wrong level

Which table should you use in Appendix Skilled Occupations?

Which table applies to you depends on the salary option, the date your CoS was assigned and whether any transitional provisions apply. For ease of understanding, the Appendix Skilled Occupations tables can be grouped as follows:

• Tables 1, 2, and 3 are the main current occupation tables for new applications
• Tables 1a, 2aa, 2a, 2b and 3a are transitional tables that apply to specific legacy cohorts (e.g. before 22 July 2025 or before 4 April 2024)
• Tables 4 and 5 are pay-scale tables used for NHS and teaching roles, respectively
• Table 6 contains ineligible occupations

The following sections explain each table in turn, including who it is for and the applicable skill level:

Table 1

• Who is it for: New Skilled Worker visa applications after 22 July 2025, under salary options A to E
• Skill level: RQF Level 6 or above

Table 1a

• Who is it for: Skilled Worker applicants granted permission before 22 July 2025 who have held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then, under salary options A to E
• Skill level: RQF Level 3 to 5

Table 2

• Who is it for: Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility and Scale-up visa applicants. For Skilled Worker applicants, this table relates to salary options F to J, including certain Health and Care ASHE salary jobs and transitional applicants granted permission before 4 April 2024 who have held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then.
• Skill level: RQF Level 6 or above

Table 2aa

• Who is it for: Skilled Worker applicants granted permission before 22 July 2025 who have held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then, under salary options F to J
• Skill level: RQF Level 3 to 5 (care workers/home carers at RQF Level 2)

Table 2a

• Who is it for: Skilled Worker applicants granted permission before 4 April 2024 who have held continuous Skilled Worker permission since then, are applying before 4 April 2030, and are continuing to work for the same sponsor as in their most recent permission, under salary option F to J
• Skill level: Previously RQF Level 3 to 5, but now reassessed as below RQF Level 3.

Table 2b

• Who is it for: Transitional occupations for Global Business Mobility applicants granted permission before 4 April 2024
• Skill level: Previously RQF Level 6 or above, but now reassessed as RQF Level 3 to 5

Table 3

• Who is it for: Health and education occupations eligible for the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility and Scale-up routes where going rates are based on national pay scales rather than ASHE data. For Skilled Worker applicants, this table relates to salary option K.
• Skill level: RQF Level 6 or above

Table 3a

• Who is it for: Skilled Worker visa applicants granted permission before 22 July 2025 for certain health and education occupations under salary option K (except for SOC 6131 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants, sponsors may only sponsor these applicants if they had Skilled Worker permission before 22 July 2025 and have had continuous Skilled Worker permission since then.)
• Skill level: RQF Level 3 – 5

Tables 4 and 5

They are not a separate occupation eligibility table.

• Table 4 contains NHS Agenda for Change pay band rates. It is used as a reference for health and care roles using salary option K.
• Table 5 contains teacher pay scale rates. It is used for teaching roles using salary option K.

Table 6

• Table 6 contains SOC codes and occupation titles that are not eligible for the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility or Scale-up visa. If a role falls in Table 6, it cannot currently be sponsored under those routes.

What are the salary options A to K?

The Skilled Worker salary Options A to K are different salary assessment pathways for different categories of workers. The salary options are as follows:

Salary Options A to E mainly apply to new Skilled Worker applicants whose Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) was assigned on or after 22 July 2025.

• Option A (General threshold): salary of at least £41,700 per year or the full going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher
• Option B (Relevant PhD): salary of at least £37,500 per year or 90% of the going rate, whichever is higher
• Option C (STEM PhD): salary of at least £33,400 per year or 80% of the going rate, whichever is higher
• Option D (Jobs on the Immigration Salary List): salary of at least £33,400 per year or the full going rate, whichever is higher
• Option E (New entrant ): salary of at least £33,400 per year or 70% of the going rate, whichever is higher

Salary Options F to J are transitional salary options mainly for workers already in the Skilled Worker route before the major salary increases introduced on 4 April 2024.

• Option F: (Standard transitional threshold): salary of at least £31,300 per year or the full going rate whichever is higher
• Option G (Relevant PhD transitional): salary of at least £28,200 per year or 90% of the going rate whichever is higher
• Option H (STEM PhD transitional): salary of at least £25,000 per year or 80% of the going rate (same eligibility as F), whichever is higher
• Option I (Jobs on the Immigration Salary List transitional) salary of at least £25,000 per year or the going rate (same eligibility as F), whichever is higher
• Option J (New entrant transitional): salary of at least £25,000 per year or 70% of the going rate (same eligibility as F), whichever is higher

Optional applies to certain listed health and education occupations where salary is based on national pay scales.

• Option K (Listed health or education occupation): salary of at least £25,000 per year or the going rate, whichever is higher

It is important to bear in mind that, for these purposes, ‘salary’ means only guaranteed basic gross pay, as per your employment contract. It does not include overtime, bonuses, shift pay, allowances, or benefits in kind.

How to use Appendix Skilled Occupations

To use Appendix Skilled Occupations correctly, you will need to complete four key steps, as follows:

1. Identify the correct SOC code for the role
2. Find the going rate for the role
3. Calculate the going rate based on the worker’s actual contracted hours
4. Compare the going rate with the general salary threshold

Step 1 – Identify the Correct SOC Code

The first task to which Standard Occupational Code (SOC) applies to the sponsored job. Appendix Skilled Occupations contains the SOC 2020 occupation codes, examples of related job titles, and going rates. It does not contain detailed job descriptions, however.

To check whether a specific job matches a particular SOC code, you can use the CASCOT tool. CASCOT provides the full occupation description for each SOC code and can help you confirm whether the job in question fits. This is important for both employers assigning a CoS and applicants checking whether their role can be sponsored.

The Home Office expects sponsors to choose the most appropriate SOC code for the actual duties involved. Choosing a code with a lower going rate simply because the intended salary does not meet the correct code’s threshold is not permitted and can result in the CoS being rejected or the visa being refused.

Step 2 – Find the ‘Going Rate’ for your role

Before looking up the going rate, you need to know:

• Which salary option applies to you (see our explanation of option A to K)
• Whether you are making a new application or extending an existing visa

Once you know your salary option, choose the correct table:

• Options A to E: Use Table 1 for the main post-22 July 2025 RQF Level 6+ occupation framework, or Table 1a for certain pre-22 July 2025 continuous Skilled Worker cohorts in additional RQF Level 3 to 5 occupations.
• Options F to J: Use Table 2, 2aa or 2a depending on whether the applicant falls within the transitional Skilled Worker arrangements, including whether they held Skilled Worker permission before the relevant rule changes and whether they are continuing with the same sponsor. Table 2b applies separately to certain transitional Global Business Mobility occupations.
• Option K: Use Table 3 or Table 3a to identify the relevant health or education occupation, then check Table 4 (NHS/healthcare roles) or Table 5 (teaching roles) for the applicable national pay scale rate.

Step 3 – Calculate the going rate based on contracted hours

There are two types of going rates in Appendix Skilled Occupations: an annual going rate based on a standard 37.5 hour working week, and an hourly going rate. If your contracted working hours are different from 37.5 hours per week, the annual going rate must be pro rated accordingly, so you should use the hourly rate to calculate the correct salary threshold. The formula to do this is:

Your job’s going rate = hourly going rate x your contracted weekly hours x 52

For example, if you are offered a role as a production manager in construction (SOC 1122) working 40 hours per week, as a new applicant whose CoS was assigned on or after 22 July 2025 and who is not eligible for a salary discount, your hourly going rate is £27.38, as set out in Table 1. For a 40 hour working week, the annual going rate would therefore be calculated as: £27.38 × 40 × 52 = £56,950.40.

If a worker is contracted to work more than 48 hours per week, only the salary attributable to the first 48 hours will be counted towards the salary threshold. From 8 April 2026, Skilled Worker sponsors must ensure sponsored workers are paid the required salary and hourly rate in each pay period, not just across the year overall.

Step 4 – Compare the going rate with the general salary threshold

Once you have calculated the adjusted going rate, compare it with the general annual salary threshold for your salary option. The salary that must be paid is the higher of the two figures.

For example, under option A, the general threshold is £41,700 per year. If the adjusted annual going rate for the role is £56,950, then £56,950 is the minimum salary that must be paid, as it is higher than the threshold.

Where the adjusted annual going rate is lower than the applicable general threshold, the general threshold will apply.

Common mistakes when using Appendix Skilled Occupations

Using Appendix Skilled Occupations incorrectly is one of the most common reasons for Skilled Worker visa refusals. The mistakes below are worth checking carefully before a CoS is assigned or a visa application is submitted.

• Choosing the wrong table based on pre or post-July 2025 CoS date: The table that applies depends on when the CoS was assigned and whether the applicant is extending or making a new application. Using Table 1 for an extension that should use Table 1a, or vice versa, will result in an incorrect going rate.
• Not pro-rating for hours other than 37.5 per week: the annual going rates in the tables are based on a 37.5-hour week. If the role has different contracted working hours, the going rate must be adjusted accordingly. Failing to do so could result in the salary not meeting the required threshold.
• Using the wrong SOC code: The SOC code must reflect the actual duties the worker will perform. Using a code that happens to have a lower going rate, or that looks similar but covers different work, will likely lead to refusal. Use the CASCOT tool to verify the correct code.
• Misunderstanding which salary option applies: different salary options have different discounted general salary thresholds and going rates. Claiming the wrong option could result in not meeting the applicable salary requirement or missing the opportunity to benefit from a lower salary threshold.
• Confusing the going rate with the general salary threshold: These are two separate figures. The salary paid must be the higher of the two. Many applications use only the general threshold and overlook the fact that the going rate for the specific occupation is higher. This leads to the visa being refused on salary grounds even though the stated salary appears reasonable.

References:

GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations

GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker