UK Immigration Salary List 2026: All 25 Eligible Roles (Phasing Out)
The UK Immigration Salary List (ISL) is the Home Office's list of shortage occupations whose Skilled Worker applicants can be sponsored at a discounted salary — they must be paid at least the higher of the discounted general floor (£25,000/yr, £12.82/hr) or 80% of the going rate for the role. Critically, the ISL is being phased out: all roles remain eligible only until 31 December 2026, except care workers and senior care workers (extended to 22 July 2028), and the list is set to be replaced by the Temporary Shortage List (TSL). There are currently 25 occupations on the ISL.
TL;DR — Immigration Salary List 2026
- What it is: 25 shortage occupations whose Skilled Worker / Health and Care Worker applicants qualify for a discounted salary threshold.
- The salary rule: you must be paid the higher of the discounted general floor (£25,000/yr / £12.82/hr absolute minimum) or 80% of the going rate for the occupation. The standard Skilled Worker going-rate floor is £33,400/yr (£17.13/hr).
- Being scrapped: the ISL is being phased out. All occupations expire on 31 December 2026, except care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136), extended to 22 July 2028. It will be replaced by the Temporary Shortage List (TSL).
- Source: gov.uk Immigration Salary List publication + Immigration Rules Appendix Immigration Salary List. Figures last updated 11 November 2025.
What is the UK Immigration Salary List?
The UK Immigration Salary List (ISL) is the Home Office's official list of occupations facing labour shortages. Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa applicants in these roles can be sponsored at a reduced salary — the higher of a discounted general floor or 80% of the role's going rate. It replaced the older Shortage Occupation List in 2024.
Is the Immigration Salary List being scrapped?
Yes. The ISL is being phased out. All listed occupations remain eligible only until 31 December 2026, except care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136), whose eligibility is extended to 22 July 2028. The Home Office intends to replace the ISL with a new Temporary Shortage List (TSL), with details still being defined.
What salary do ISL roles need in 2026?
An applicant whose occupation is on the Immigration Salary List must be paid at least the higher of two figures:
- the discounted general salary threshold — an absolute floor of £25,000 per year (£12.82/hr) for most ISL roles (this general floor was raised from £23,200 to £25,000 on 9 April 2025); and
- 80% of the going rate for that specific SOC occupation code.
gov.uk describes this as needing “80% of the route's usual minimum rate”. In the official ISL table, each occupation shows a standard rate (the normal Skilled Worker going-rate floor, generally £33,400/yr or £17.13/hr) and a discounted lower rate (the ISL figure reflecting the 80%-of-going-rate / general-threshold floor). You take whichever is higher. All figures assume a 37.5-hour week and are pro-rated for other working patterns.
The per-occupation lower-rate figures below are point-in-time, taken from the gov.uk ISL publication last updated 11 November 2025. Going rates change as the Home Office updates its data, so always confirm the current figure for your SOC code on gov.uk before relying on it.
Full Immigration Salary List 2026 (all 25 occupations)
Below is the complete, verified Immigration Salary List — all 25 occupations, cross-checked against both the gov.uk ISL publication and the Immigration Rules Appendix Immigration Salary List.
| SOC code | Occupation | Where it applies | Notes / eligibility | Standard rate | ISL (lower) rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1212 | Managers and proprietors in forestry, fishing and related services | Scotland only | Fishing boat masters only | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,800 (£13.23/hr) |
| 1232 | Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors | UK-wide | All jobs | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 2111 | Chemical scientists | Scotland only | Nuclear industry jobs only | £39,900 (£20.46/hr) | £31,300 (£16.05/hr) |
| 2112 | Biological scientists | UK-wide | All jobs | £40,300 (£20.67/hr) | £30,700 (£15.74/hr) |
| 2115 | Social and humanities scientists | UK-wide | Archaeologists only | £40,400 (£20.72/hr) | £28,000 (£14.36/hr) |
| 2142 | Graphic and multimedia designers | UK-wide | All jobs | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £26,200 (£13.44/hr) |
| 3111 | Laboratory technicians | UK-wide | Requires 3+ years of related experience (this experience must not have been gained while working illegally) | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 3212 | Pharmaceutical technicians | UK-wide | All jobs | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 3411 | Artists | UK-wide | All jobs | £38,200 (£19.59/hr) | £26,600 (£13.64/hr) |
| 3414 | Dancers and choreographers | UK-wide | Skilled classical and contemporary dancers meeting the standard required by internationally recognised UK ballet or contemporary dance companies | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £28,500 (£14.62/hr) |
| 3415 | Musicians | UK-wide | Skilled orchestral musicians who are leaders, principals, sub-principals or numbered string positions, and who meet the standard required by full member orchestras of the Association of British Orchestras | £37,500 (£19.23/hr) | £30,100 (£15.44/hr) |
| 3416 | Arts officers, producers and directors | UK-wide | All jobs | £38,100 (£19.54/hr) | £28,800 (£14.77/hr) |
| 5119 | Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified | UK-wide | Fishing industry only | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 5213 | Welding trades | UK-wide | High integrity pipe welders, where the job requires 3+ years of related on-the-job experience (this experience must not have been gained while working illegally) | £34,900 (£17.90/hr) | £29,500 (£15.13/hr) |
| 5235 | Boat and ship builders and repairers | Scotland only | All jobs | £33,700 (£17.28/hr) | £29,600 (£15.18/hr) |
| 5312 | Stonemasons and related trades | UK-wide | All jobs | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £28,500 (£14.62/hr) |
| 5313 | Bricklayers | UK-wide | All jobs | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 5314 | Roofers, roof tilers and slaters | UK-wide | All jobs | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 5316 | Carpenters and joiners | UK-wide | All jobs | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £27,800 (£14.26/hr) |
| 5319 | Construction and building trades not elsewhere classified | UK-wide | Retrofitters only | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £27,300 (£14.00/hr) |
| 6129 | Animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified | UK-wide | Racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud workers and work riders | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 6131 | Nursing auxiliaries and assistants | UK-wide | All jobs (only in settings where registered nurse / healthcare professional roles exist) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 6135 | Care workers and home carers | UK-wide | In England, positions must be with a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered provider; private household roles excluded. Extended eligibility expiry: 22 July 2028 | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 6136 | Senior care workers | UK-wide | In England, positions must be with a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered provider. Extended eligibility expiry: 22 July 2028 | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
| 9119 | Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified | UK-wide | Deckhands on large fishing vessels (9 metres and above) where the job requires 3+ years of full-time experience (this experience must not have been gained while working illegally) | £33,400 (£17.13/hr) | £25,000 (£12.82/hr) |
Source: gov.uk Immigration Salary List publication + Immigration Rules Appendix Immigration Salary List. Lower-rate figures are point-in-time (last updated 11 November 2025) — confirm current figures on gov.uk.
Is your role on the Immigration Salary List?
To check whether your role qualifies, find the SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code your job sits under, then look for that exact code in the table above — and read the Notes / eligibility and Where it applies columns carefully, because many entries cover only a narrow sub-set of jobs or only Scotland.
- Care workers and senior care workers (SOC 6135, 6136) — yes, on the ISL, with eligibility extended to 22 July 2028. In England the role must be with a CQC-registered provider.
- Engineers and IT / software roles — not on the ISL. There is no SOC code for general engineering, IT, or software occupations in the verified 25-occupation list, so they cannot use the ISL discount (they sponsor at the standard going rate instead).
- Scientists — only specific cases qualify: biological scientists (UK-wide), social/humanities scientists (archaeologists only), and chemical scientists (Scotland, nuclear industry only).
- Construction trades — bricklayers, roofers, carpenters and joiners, stonemasons and retrofitters appear; general labourers do not.
If your exact SOC code and sub-category are not listed above, your role is not on the ISL.
What replaces the ISL? The Temporary Shortage List
As the ISL is phased out, the Home Office intends to introduce a Temporary Shortage List (TSL) as its successor mechanism for occupations below RQF level 6 that face genuine shortages. The TSL is expected to be time-limited and tied to advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and sector workforce strategies.
The precise scope, qualifying occupations, salary rules and operating dates of the TSL are still being defined by the MAC and the Home Office. Until the detailed rules are published, employers and applicants should plan around the confirmed ISL expiry dates (31 December 2026, and 22 July 2028 for care roles) rather than assume any specific occupation will carry over to the TSL. Always check gov.uk for the latest position.
Frequently asked questions
How many occupations are on the Immigration Salary List?
There are 25 occupations on the current Immigration Salary List, identified by SOC code. They span care, construction trades, fishing and agriculture, laboratory and pharmaceutical technicians, scientists, and creative roles such as artists, dancers, musicians and arts directors. Most apply UK-wide; a handful apply in Scotland only.
What is the minimum salary for an ISL role in 2026?
An ISL applicant must be paid the higher of the discounted general floor — an absolute minimum of £25,000 per year (£12.82/hr) for most roles — or 80% of the going rate for their SOC code. The standard Skilled Worker going-rate floor is £33,400/yr (£17.13/hr).
When does the Immigration Salary List end?
The ISL is being phased out. All listed occupations stop being eligible on 31 December 2026, except care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136), whose eligibility runs until 22 July 2028. After these dates the roles are expected to fall under the new Temporary Shortage List, subject to its rules.
Are engineers or IT workers on the ISL?
No. The verified 25-occupation list contains no SOC code for engineering, IT or software roles, so they are not eligible for the ISL salary discount. Skilled Worker applicants in those fields must be sponsored at the standard going rate for their occupation rather than a reduced ISL rate.
Are care workers still on the Immigration Salary List?
Yes. Care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136) remain on the ISL with an extended eligibility date of 22 July 2028 — longer than other roles. In England the position must be with a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered provider, and private household care roles are excluded.
Do the discounted ISL salary figures change?
Yes. The per-occupation lower-rate figures are point-in-time, taken from the gov.uk ISL publication last updated 11 November 2025. They reflect 80% of going rates that the Home Office updates over time, so always confirm the current figure for your specific SOC code on gov.uk before relying on it.
Related guides
- UK Skilled Worker going rate 2026: how going rates work by occupation
- UK visa sponsorship salary thresholds 2026 explained
- UK Health and Care Worker visa 2026: eligibility and salary
- Care worker visa UK 2026: your options after the ISL changes
- RQF level 6 Skilled Worker visa: eligible jobs in 2026
- UK Skilled Worker visa salary threshold by role 2026
Check your eligibility with Tarve
Salary thresholds, going rates and the ISL phase-out are moving targets — and getting them wrong can sink a sponsorship. Visit Tarve.co.uk to check whether your role and salary meet the current UK Skilled Worker requirements before you apply.
This guide is for general information and is not legal advice. Figures are point-in-time (gov.uk ISL publication, last updated 11 November 2025). Always confirm the current rules and salary figures on gov.uk. Source: gov.uk Immigration Salary List publication + Immigration Rules Appendix Immigration Salary List.
Mahadheer Muhammed
The Tarve team researches UK visa sponsorship directly from official gov.uk and Home Office sources — the register of licensed sponsors, the Immigration Rules, and published salary and going-rate data — to produce clear, regularly updated guides for international professionals. Tarve is an independent information and job-search service, not a regulated immigration adviser.
How we source this guide
Figures and rules on this page are taken from official gov.uk and Home Office publications and were last verified on 2 June 2026. Tarve is an independent information and job-search service, not a regulated immigration adviser — guidance here is for information only, and you should always confirm the current rules on gov.uk.
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