Immigration Salary List UK – Skilled Worker Visa [2025]

The Immigration Salary List UK (ISL) was introduced in 2024 to replace the old Shortage Occupation List. This change is part of the government’s plan to raise salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas while still allowing certain key roles to qualify with lower pay.

If you’re applying for a UK work visa in 2025, it’s vital to understand how the new Immigration Salary List UK works, which jobs are included, and what salary levels are required.

The Immigration Salary List UK is not to be confused with other lists such as the Skilled Worker Occupation List / Healthcare and Education Shortage Occupation List / Temporary Shortage List

Depending on your job role or Standard Occupational Classification (SOC), will decide which work visa is appropriate for you. However, most work visas can lead to permanent residence in the UK after five years and then on to citizenship.

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What is Immigration Salary List UK?

The Immigration Salary List UK (ISL) was created to help British businesses who are experiencing skills shortages and need to hire from overseas. There are currently 23 occupations on the Immigration Salary List UK of which 20 are needed in all four countries, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This UK shortage occupation list is compatible with the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas.

UK companies benefit as they can sponsor skilled professionals with a lower salary threshold, whilst workers benefit with reduced visa fees.

Immigration Salary List UK

The most recent Immigration Salary List UK is below, it was published on July 2025.

All job roles on this list can be applied through the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa routes.

In addition, you qualify for the lower rate if you are applying for specific roles in the Health and Care Worker visa, or you got a Certificate of Sponsorship before April 2024.

SOC Code	Job Role	Country	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)

Other Skilled Occupation Lists

If your job type is not in the Immigration Salary List UK, you may still qualify for job sponsorship on another occupations list. Similar to ISL, your occupation must be eligible and you must earn a salary above the “Going Rate”.

Skilled Worker Occupation List

There are 225 occupations currently on this list, you can find the list here.

The largest of all the occupation lists in the UK, there is wide range of job roles across many industries.

Careers on this list can be applied for through the Skilled Worker visa.

Health and Education Occupation List

Are nurses on the Immigration Salary List? Yes!

Doctors, nurses, social workers and teaching professionals will find their code through the Healthcare and Education Occupations List.

The Health and Care worker visa is currently the most popular way to immigrate to the UK, 50,591 applicants moved here year ending September 2024.

SOC	Job Role	Related job titles
2211	Generalist medical practitioners	Doctor General practitioner House officer (hospital service) Medical practitioner Physician
2212	Specialist medical practitioners	Anaesthetist Consultant (hospital service) Homeopath (medically qualified) Medical acupuncturist Paediatrician Psychiatrist Radiologist Surgeon
2221	Physiotherapists	Electro-therapist Physiotherapist Physiotherapy practitioner
2222	Occupational therapists	Community occupational therapist Occupational therapist Paediatric occupational therapist
2223	Speech and language therapists	Communication therapist Language therapist Speech and language therapist Speech therapist
2224	Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists	Cognitive behavioural therapist Psycho-analyst Psychological counsellor Psychotherapist
2225	Clinical psychologists	Clinical psychologist Consultant clinical psychologist
2226	Other psychologists	Educational psychologist Forensic psychologist Occupational psychologist Psychologist Psychometrist
2229	Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified	Acupuncturist Art therapist Chiropractor Dance movement therapist Family therapist Genetic counsellor Nutritionist Osteopath Sports massage therapist Sports therapist
2231	Midwifery nurses	Delivery suite manager Midwife Midwifery manager
2232	Registered community nurses	Community care nurse District nurse Health visitor Practice nurse
2233	Registered specialist nurses	Advanced primary care nurse Intensive care nurse Clinical nurse specialist Theatre manager (hospital service)
2234	Registered nurse practitioners	Health care practitioner Mental health practitioner Practitioner (nursing)
2235	Registered mental health nurses	Community mental health nurse Psychiatric nurse
2236	Registered children’s nurses	Community children’s nurse Neonatal nurse Paediatric nurse School nurse
2237	Other registered nursing professionals	Clinical lead nurse Matron (care/residential home) Nurse Nurse educator Occupational health nurse Staff nurse Team leader (nursing) Ward manager
2251	Pharmacists	Chemist (pharmaceutical) Dispensary manager Pharmaceutical chemist Pharmacist Pharmacy manager
2252	Optometrists	Doctor of optometry Ophthalmic optician Optician
2253	Dental practitioners	Dental surgeon Dentist Orthodontist Periodontist
2254	Medical radiographers	Medical photographer Nuclear medicine practitioner Radiographer Sonographer Therapeutic radiographer Vascular technologist
2255	Paramedics	Ambulance paramedic Emergency care practitioner Paramedic Paramedic-ECP
2256	Podiatrists	Chiropodist Foot health practitioner (qualified) Podiatrist
2259	Other health professionals not elsewhere classified	Audiologist Clinical physiologist Dietician-nutritionist Family planner Occupational health adviser Operating theatre practitioner Physiologist
2312	Further education teaching professionals	FE College lecturer Lecturer (further education) Teacher (further education) Tutor (further education)
2313	Secondary education teaching professionals	Curriculum leader (secondary school) Deputy head teacher (secondary school) Head of year (secondary school) Secondary school teacher Sixth form teacher Teacher (secondary school)
2314	Primary education teaching professionals	Deputy head teacher (primary school) Infant teacher Junior school teacher Primary school teacher
2315	Nursery education teaching professionals	Kindergarten teacher (professional) Nursery school teacher Pre-school teacher
2316	Special and additional needs education teaching professionals	Behaviour support teacher Deputy head teacher (special/additional needs school) Learning support teacher Special educational needs coordinator Special needs teacher
2321	Head teachers and principals	Head master (secondary school) Head teacher (primary school) Principal (further education) Rector (university)
2461	Social workers	Independent review officer (social worker) Mental health social worker Senior practitioner (local government: social services) Social worker Team leader (local government: social services)
3213	Medical and dental technicians	Cardiographer Dental hygienist Dental technician Medical technical officer Ocularist Orthopaedic technician Radiography assistant practitioner
3219	Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified	Antenatal teacher Diet adviser Health trainer Therapist
3231	Higher level teaching assistants	Advanced teaching assistant HLTA Learning support practitioner Teaching assistant (qualified)
6112	Teaching assistants	Classroom assistant School assistant Teaching assistant
6113	Educational support assistants	Education support assistant Learning support assistant Non-teaching assistant (schools) Special needs assistant Support assistant (educational establishments)
6131	Nursing auxiliaries and assistants	Auxiliary nurse Health care assistant (hospital service) Health care support worker Nursing assistant Nursing auxiliary
6132	Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)	Ambulance care assistant Ambulance driver Ambulance service preparation operative Ambulance technician Emergency medical technician
6133	Dental nurses	Dental assistant Dental nurse Dental nurse-receptionist Dental surgery assistant

Unskilled Shortage Occupation List UK

There are no visa sponsorship opportunities if your job role is not listed in any of the three lists discussed above.

However, some UK work visas do not require a job offer or job sponsorship at all.

Here are the top 5 most popular UK work visa without job offer:

UK Work Visas with Job Sponsorship

How to apply for Immigration Salary List UK? Depending on your personal circumstances such as age, nationality, SOC code and education. Will decide which UK work visa is correct for you.

Eligibility varies depending on your circumstances and the type of visa, but there are some general rules. You will have to be on one of the occupations lists linked to that visa, for example to apply for the Scale-Up visa it must on the Scale-Up Occupation List.

To apply for a job in the National Health Service (NHS) or healthcare in general. You would apply through the Health and Care Worker visa as this would relate to your job role. You would find the SOC code for your role on the Healthcare and Education Occupations List.

• You must work for an employer that has been approved for a sponsor license.
• Salary must meet a minimum threshold for that job role.
• Pass an English language test.

Can a job through Immigration Salary List UK lead to citizenship?

Yes, depending on the visa type and your length of stay. You need to accumulate five years of working in the UK before you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

There are 3 main stages to being granted British citizenship.

• Live and Work in the UK for 5 years on a work visa
• Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
• Apply for Naturalisation/British citizenship

FAQs: Immigration Salary List UK

❓ What is the difference between the Immigration Salary List and the Shortage Occupation List?

The Shortage Occupation List no longer applies. The Immigration Salary List UK has replaced it, with updated roles and salary rules.

❓ Do all Skilled Worker visas require £38,700 now?

No. If your job is on the ISL, you can qualify with a lower salary. Health and care workers also have separate rules.

❓ How often is the ISL updated?

The government reviews the list regularly and makes changes depending on labour market needs.

Have questions or want help choosing the right visa? Subscribe or explore more articles on UK visas and immigration tips.

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