For internationally trained professionals targeting UK employment through the Skilled Worker visa route, understanding which occupations appear on the UK’s shortage occupation framework is one of the most strategically important pieces of knowledge you can have. Roles identified as shortage occupations benefit from a reduced minimum salary threshold — currently set at 80% of the going rate rather than the full prevailing wage — making them more accessible for internationally recruited workers and more financially viable for sponsoring employers.
In 2026, the shortage occupation framework operates under what the Home Office now formally calls the Immigration Salary List (ISL), which replaced the former Shortage Occupation List following the recommendations of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) in 2023. Understanding how the ISL works, which roles it covers, and how to use it strategically in your UK job search gives you a measurable advantage over international candidates who are unaware of the salary flexibility it creates.
What Is the UK Immigration Salary List?
The Immigration Salary List is a formal register of occupations — identified by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code — for which the Home Office has determined that a reduced salary threshold applies to Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Specifically, applicants seeking sponsorship in an ISL-listed occupation can be sponsored at 80% of the going rate for that occupation rather than the full 100% going rate that applies to non-listed roles.
The ISL is reviewed and updated periodically based on recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee, which analyses labour market data to identify genuine areas of domestic skills shortage across the UK economy. Employers in ISL-listed occupations therefore have a financially lower bar to clear when sponsoring overseas workers — which in practice means they are more willing to pursue international recruitment for these roles.
How the ISL Salary Reduction Works in Practice
| Occupation | Full Going Rate (100%) | ISL Reduced Rate (80%) | Annual Saving for Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer (SOC 2121) | £40,000 | £32,000 | £8,000 |
| Secondary School Teacher (SOC 2314) | £36,000 | £28,800 | £7,200 |
| Nurse (SOC 2231) | £33,000 | £26,400 | £6,600 |
| Software Developer (SOC 2136) | £45,000 | £36,000 | £9,000 |
Importantly, the ISL reduced rate applies in addition to the general Skilled Worker visa salary floor — the offer must meet the higher of either the 80% going rate for the SOC code or the general minimum threshold applicable to the applicant’s circumstances (£38,700 for most general applicants, or £30,960 for new entrants and ISL-eligible applicants). For most ISL-listed roles, the 80% going rate is the binding threshold in practice.
Key Changes: From Shortage Occupation List to Immigration Salary List
Prior to April 2024, the UK operated a formal Shortage Occupation List (SOL) that provided a 20% salary discount and additionally allowed sponsoring employers to pay below the general minimum salary threshold for listed roles. The MAC’s 2023 review recommended replacing the SOL with the ISL on different terms:
- The ISL retains the 80% going rate reduction — but the general minimum salary threshold was simultaneously raised from £26,200 to £38,700 for most applicants, substantially narrowing the practical benefit of the ISL for many roles
- The ISL no longer provides an automatic route below the general minimum threshold in the way the former SOL did — new entrant status or other tradeable criteria are now required to access sub-£30,960 sponsorship in most cases
- The MAC committed to reviewing the ISL more frequently than the previous SOL review cycle, meaning the list of qualifying occupations is subject to more regular updates in 2026 than it was under the former framework
International applicants should therefore treat the ISL as a salary flexibility tool — particularly valuable for new entrants and for roles where the going rate is substantially above £38,700 — rather than a blanket route to lower-salary sponsorship as the previous SOL sometimes functioned.
Who Benefits Most From the Immigration Salary List
The ISL’s 80% going rate reduction provides the greatest practical benefit in three distinct applicant groups:
- New entrants to the labour market: Applicants under 26, recent graduates switching from a student visa, PhD holders in a relevant field, and applicants in their first job after completing a UK qualification already qualify for the 80% threshold under new entrant rules — but for those in this group who are applying to ISL-listed occupations, the reduced rate confirms the employer’s legal ability to offer a lower starting salary without jeopardising the sponsorship
- Mid-career professionals in occupations with high going rates: For SOC codes where the 100% going rate significantly exceeds £38,700 — such as software developers, engineers, and financial analysts — the 20% reduction on the going rate creates meaningful salary flexibility for employers who are recruiting internationally for roles that are already competitive to fill domestically
- Internationally recruited workers in public sector roles: Healthcare, education, and social care roles are disproportionately represented on the ISL because their going rates are tied to national pay scales that the Home Office has separately addressed through the NHS Agenda for Change and teaching pay scale frameworks — and the ISL provides additional assurance for roles in adjacent or hybrid occupations
UK Immigration Salary List 2026: All Qualifying Roles by Sector
The following is a comprehensive sector-by-sector breakdown of occupations currently listed on the UK Immigration Salary List, based on the most recently published Home Office Skilled Worker visa eligible occupations appendix. Salary figures reflect the 80% going rate applicable to ISL-listed occupations — the actual going rate at 100% is higher, as shown.
Note that the ISL is subject to periodic review. Always verify the current version at gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations before applying or advising an employer on salary thresholds.
Health and Social Care
| Occupation | SOC Code | Full Going Rate | ISL Rate (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | 2231 | £33,000 | £26,400 |
| Midwife | 2232 | £33,000 | £26,400 |
| Radiographer | 2217 | £35,392 | £28,314 |
| Physiotherapist | 2219 | £35,392 | £28,314 |
| Occupational Therapist | 2219 | £35,392 | £28,314 |
| Paramedic | 3213 | £27,596 | £22,077 |
| Pharmacist | 2213 | £43,742 | £34,994 |
| Medical Practitioner (Doctor) | 2211, 2212 | National pay scales | National pay scales apply |
| Dental Practitioner | 2214 | £45,000 | £36,000 |
| Psychologist (Clinical) | 2211 | £43,742 | £34,994 |
| Care Worker and Home Carer | 6145 | £23,200 | £18,560 (floor applies) |
| Senior Care Worker | 6146 | £25,000 | £20,000 (floor applies) |
| Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer | 3111 | £35,392 | £28,314 |
| Orthoptist | 2219 | £35,392 | £28,314 |
| Prosthetist and Orthotist | 2219 | £35,392 | £28,314 |
| Speech and Language Therapist | 2219 | £35,392 | £28,314 |
| Dietitian | 2219 | £35,392 | £28,314 |
NHS roles assessed under the Agenda for Change pay scale are largely exempt from the general going rate framework — Band-specific salaries set by NHS national terms and conditions serve as the relevant comparators for most NHS-employed health professionals. The ISL rates above are most directly relevant to private healthcare, independent clinics, and allied health employers operating outside the NHS pay structure.
Education
| Occupation | SOC Code | Full Going Rate | ISL Rate (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary Education Teacher | 2314 | £31,650 – £49,084 (regional scale) | National pay scale (exempt from general threshold) |
| Special Educational Needs Teacher | 2315 | £31,650 – £49,084 | National pay scale applies |
| Further Education Teacher | 2317 | £30,000 | £24,000 |
| Higher Education Teaching Professional | 2311 | £38,000 | £30,400 |
Teachers in state-maintained schools are assessed against the national qualified teacher pay scales, which the Home Office has confirmed are acceptable as the going rate for Skilled Worker sponsorship purposes — making teaching one of the most straightforwardly accessible ISL occupations for internationally qualified educators.
Engineering and Science
| Occupation | SOC Code | Full Going Rate | ISL Rate (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | 2121 | £40,000 | £32,000 |
| Mechanical Engineer | 2122 | £40,000 | £32,000 |
| Electrical Engineer | 2123 | £40,000 | £32,000 |
| Electronics Engineer | 2123 | £40,000 | £32,000 |
| Chemical Engineer | 2129 | £40,000 | £32,000 |
| Production and Process Engineer | 2129 | £38,000 | £30,400 |
| Engineering Project Manager | 2126 | £48,000 | £38,400 |
| Geologist and Geophysicist | 2114 | £40,000 | £32,000 |
| Physicist | 2111 | £40,000 | £32,000 |
| Metallurgist | 2129 | £38,000 | £30,400 |
| Nuclear Engineer | 2129 | £42,000 | £33,600 |
| Ship and Hovercraft Officer | 3512 | £38,000 | £30,400 |
| Aircraft Pilot and Flight Engineer | 3511 | £55,000 | £44,000 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 3513 | £50,000 | £40,000 |
Information Technology
| Occupation | SOC Code | Full Going Rate | ISL Rate (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | 2136 | £45,000 | £36,000 |
| IT Business Analyst, Architect and Systems Designer | 2135 | £45,000 | £36,000 |
| Cybersecurity Specialist | 2139 | £45,000 | £36,000 |
| Data Scientist | 2136 | £45,000 | £36,000 |
| IT Project and Programme Manager | 2150 | £45,000 | £36,000 |
| Database Administrator | 2136 | £38,000 | £30,400 |
| IT Operations Technician | 3132 | £30,000 | £24,000 |
| Telecommunications Engineer | 3421 | £35,000 | £28,000 |
Architecture, Construction, and Planning
| Occupation | SOC Code | Full Going Rate | ISL Rate (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architect | 2431 | £38,700 | £30,960 |
| Town Planner | 2432 | £38,000 | £30,400 |
| Quantity Surveyor | 2473 | £38,700 | £30,960 |
| Building Services Engineer | 2129 | £40,000 | £32,000 |
| Construction Project Manager | 2462 | £45,000 | £36,000 |
Finance and Professional Services
| Occupation | SOC Code | Full Going Rate | ISL Rate (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actuarial Analyst | 2423 | £42,000 | £33,600 |
| Actuary | 2423 | £55,000 | £44,000 |
| Financial Analyst | 3537 | £38,700 | £30,960 |
| Chartered Accountant | 2421 | £42,000 | £33,600 |
Skilled Trades
| Occupation | SOC Code | Full Going Rate | ISL Rate (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butcher | 5431 | £24,000 | £19,200 |
| Chef (Skilled) | 5434 | £29,000 | £23,200 |
| Bricklayer and Mason | 5312 | £31,000 | £24,800 |
| Carpenter and Joiner | 5315 | £31,000 | £24,800 |
| Electrician | 5241 | £35,000 | £28,000 |
| Plumber and Heating Engineer | 5314 | £34,000 | £27,200 |
| Welder | 5212 | £30,000 | £24,000 |
| Roofer and Roof Tiler | 5319 | £30,000 | £24,000 |
| Plasterer | 5319 | £30,000 | £24,000 |
Science and Research
| Occupation | SOC Code | Full Going Rate | ISL Rate (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Scientist and Biochemist | 2112 | £35,000 | £28,000 |
| Research Scientist (Physical Sciences) | 2111 | £38,000 | £30,400 |
| Chemist | 2111 | £36,000 | £28,800 |
| Statistician | 2425 | £38,000 | £30,400 |
Transport and Maritime
| Occupation | SOC Code | Full Going Rate | ISL Rate (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Goods Vehicle Driver | 8211 | £26,200 | £20,960 |
| Bus and Coach Driver | 8221 | £26,200 | £20,960 |
| Rail and Tram Driver | 8111 | £43,000 | £34,400 |
How to Use the Immigration Salary List Strategically in Your UK Job Search
1. Confirm Your Target Occupation’s ISL Status First
Before engaging with any sponsoring employer, confirm whether your target SOC code appears on the current Immigration Salary List. If it does, you can legitimately discuss the reduced salary threshold with the employer — this is a Home Office-sanctioned flexibility, not a workaround. Employers may be unaware of their ability to offer a reduced salary for ISL occupations and may benefit from you clearly referencing the relevant Home Office guidance when discussing the sponsorship arrangement.
2. Use ISL Status as a Negotiation Lever With Employers
When approaching employers for roles in ISL-listed occupations, framing your ISL eligibility as a cost-reducing factor for the employer — rather than a limitation for you — makes the conversation about sponsorship more commercially focused and less administratively daunting. Pointing out that your role on the ISL reduces the minimum salary obligation by up to 20% of the going rate can move an employer from “we are not sure we can afford the sponsorship process” to “this is financially viable and we should proceed.”
3. Target ISL Roles When Your CRS Score Is Borderline
For applicants whose language scores, years of experience, or educational credentials place them at a borderline eligibility level for the Skilled Worker visa’s general salary threshold, a role in an ISL-listed occupation can be the qualification factor that makes the difference. The 80% going rate for many ISL occupations falls within or very close to the £30,960 new entrant threshold — creating an accessible on-ramp for early-career professionals in shortage fields.
4. Combine ISL Status With New Entrant Points for Maximum Salary Flexibility
New entrant status — available to applicants under 26, recent student visa switchers, qualifying PhD holders, and those in their first role after a UK degree — qualifies independently for the 80% going rate reduction. When your occupation also appears on the ISL, both qualifying criteria point toward the same reduced threshold — confirming the employer’s ability to offer a reduced salary without any ambiguity about which reduction applies.
5. Research Employers Who Are Already Sponsoring in ISL Occupations
The Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors contains employers in every ISL-listed sector. Cross-referencing the register with active job postings in shortage occupations — particularly in healthcare, engineering, and technology — identifies employers who are already familiar with the ISL framework and have established processes for sponsoring workers at reduced going rate thresholds. These employers represent the path of least resistance for internationally recruited workers in ISL roles.
ISL Roles With the Fastest UK Visa Sponsorship Pipelines
While the ISL applies consistently across all listed occupations, certain sectors have developed particularly fast and well-resourced sponsorship pipelines for internationally recruited workers — making them especially productive targets for applicants who want to move quickly.
Healthcare: NHS and Private Healthcare
Registered nurses, allied health professionals, and specialist clinical roles are among the most efficiently sponsored ISL occupations in the UK. The NHS’s established international recruitment infrastructure — including partnerships with overseas nursing agencies, dedicated international HR teams in most major Trusts, and dedicated onboarding support for internationally recruited health professionals — means that the end-to-end timeline from job offer to visa issuance is often as short as eight to twelve weeks for straightforward cases.
Technology: Software Developers and Cybersecurity Specialists
The technology sector’s inclusion on the ISL at a going rate of £45,000 (80% reduced to £36,000) makes it financially accessible for a broader range of UK tech employers than would otherwise be the case under the general £38,700 threshold. Large technology employers — including those in financial technology, defence technology, and enterprise software — have established immigration legal teams and rapid sponsorship workflows, often processing Skilled Worker applications through premium processing within six to eight weeks of the job offer.
Education: Secondary School Teachers in Shortage Subjects
Mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, and modern foreign languages teachers are among the most actively recruited ISL occupations in the UK education sector. Multi-Academy Trusts with established international teacher recruitment programmes — including those targeting the Philippines, South Africa, and Canada — can move from initial offer to visa issuance within ten to fourteen weeks when the candidate holds a recognised teaching qualification and English language proficiency evidence.
Important Caveats When Using the Immigration Salary List
- The ISL is updated periodically — always check the current version: The Home Office and MAC review the ISL on an ongoing basis. Roles may be added or removed between review cycles. Always confirm the current ISL at the Home Office skilled worker visa eligible occupations appendix before making employment or immigration decisions based on ISL status
- The ISL reduction applies to the going rate — not the general minimum threshold: A common misunderstanding is that the ISL allows sponsorship below £30,960. This is not generally correct. The ISL reduces the going rate for the specific SOC code by 20% — but the offer must still meet the higher of this reduced going rate or the applicable general minimum threshold for the applicant’s circumstances
- Not all ISL roles can be sponsored below the general threshold: For many high-going-rate occupations — including senior engineers, software developers, and project managers — the 80% going rate remains well above £38,700, meaning the ISL reduction is most relevant when comparing against the full going rate rather than the general threshold
- The employer must hold a valid Worker sponsor licence for the relevant SOC code: Confirming that the employer’s sponsor licence covers the specific SOC code under which you are being sponsored — not merely that the employer appears on the register — is an important verification step, particularly for smaller employers whose licences may be limited to specific occupation categories
How to Find UK Employers Currently Hiring for ISL Roles
- Home Office Register of Licensed Sponsors (gov.uk): Download the weekly-updated register and cross-reference with ISL-listed occupations in your target sector to build a verified employer target list
- NHS Jobs (jobs.nhs.uk): All NHS postings are open to international applicants — filter by profession and Band to identify ISL-listed healthcare roles currently being recruited for
- Reed.co.uk and Totaljobs.com: Both platforms have visa sponsorship filters — combining sponsorship availability with salary parameters consistent with the ISL reduced rate surfaces the most relevant sponsored postings in shortage occupations
- LinkedIn UK: Search shortage occupation keywords alongside “visa sponsorship” and a salary range consistent with the ISL 80% going rate for your target SOC code — employers increasingly disclose sponsorship availability explicitly in postings for ISL-listed roles
- Sector-specific job boards: Engineers Jobs (engineeringjobs.co.uk), CWJobs for technology, TES for teaching, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council job board all aggregate postings from employers with established international recruitment pipelines in their respective ISL-listed sectors
Conclusion
The UK Immigration Salary List in 2026 is one of the most practically valuable tools available to internationally trained professionals targeting UK employment through the Skilled Worker visa. By identifying occupations where the Home Office has confirmed a genuine domestic labour shortage and authorised a reduced salary threshold for overseas recruitment, the ISL creates a broader and more financially accessible pool of sponsoring employers in healthcare, technology, engineering, education, and the skilled trades than exists in the general sponsorship market.
Understanding which roles are listed, how the 80% going rate reduction interacts with the general minimum threshold, and how to use ISL status strategically when approaching employers gives you a measurable advantage over applicants who are unaware of the framework — and positions you to secure Skilled Worker visa sponsorship faster and in a wider range of organisations than the general market alone would allow.