Immigration Salary List (ISL): What Employers Need to Know
- Nisan Yesildaglar
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 25
The Immigration Salary List (ISL) is a key tool used by the Home Office to manage the UK’s Skilled Worker visa route. It outlines specific shortage occupations that are eligible for sponsorship - provided employers meet stricter salary and skills thresholds.
Following significant changes implemented on 22 July 2025, the ISL no longer offers salary discounts. Instead, all ISL-listed jobs must meet 100% of the going rate plus a salary floor of:
£33,400 per year for RQF Level 6+ roles (graduate level),
£23,200 per year for RQF Level 3–5 roles (sub-degree level), or
£25,000 per year for care workers under the Health and Care Worker route.
This guide explains how the ISL works, what has changed, and what employers must do to remain compliant when sponsoring workers under these codes.
1️⃣ What Is the Immigration Salary List?
The ISL, introduced on 4 April 2024, is the UK government’s formal list of roles facing recognized shortages. It replaced the older Shortage Occupation List and operates alongside the Temporary Shortage List (TSL).
Jobs on the ISL:
Are eligible for Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas.
Must meet 100% of the job’s going rate.
Are not eligible for a “20% salary discount” (which was removed in 2025).
Must meet one of two minimum thresholds:
£33,400 for RQF 6+ roles (graduate or above),
£23,200 for RQF 3–5 roles (e.g., technicians, trades, care workers).
The list is reviewed by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and roles may be added or removed over time.
🛑 Note: From 22 July 2025, RQF 3–5 roles on the ISL no longer allow new dependants. Existing dependants can remain but new applications for family members have stopped.
2️⃣ Who Is Affected?
Employers sponsoring Skilled Worker visa holders in an ISL-listed occupation must:
Use SOC 2020 codes.
Ensure the job meets:
The ISL salary floor,
100% of the going rate, and
RQF level eligibility.
Understand that certain roles may expire from the ISL by 31 December 2026 unless extended.
Skilled Workers in RQF 3–5 roles:
Can no longer bring new dependants (spouses, children).
Must still meet English language and financial maintenance rules.
3️⃣ What Are the Salary Requirements?
Sponsoring a worker in an ISL-listed role means meeting:
Job Type | Threshold |
RQF Level 6+ | £33,400 per year and going rate |
RQF Level 3–5 | £23,200 per year and going rate |
Care Worker (Health visa) | £25,000 or £12.82/hr (whichever higher) |
There is no 20% discount for ISL roles. Pay must be:
In guaranteed gross salary only (excludes bonuses, allowances),
Pro-rated for part-time work,
Based on a max 48-hour week to calculate hourly minimums.
4️⃣ Transitional Rules: Who Can Use Lower Thresholds?
Certain transitional salary rules (Options F–J) remain in place for Skilled Workers sponsored before 4 April 2024 in roles covered by national pay scales, especially:
Nurses
Therapists
Social workers
Some care workers
These workers may qualify for:
Lower thresholds like £31,300, £28,200, or £25,000 depending on their SOC code and pay option.
But these do not apply to new hires from 22 July 2025 onward.
5️⃣ How to Use the Immigration Salary List
To remain compliant, employers should:
✅ Identify the correct SOC 2020 code (matching job duties, not title).
✅ Check if the role appears in Appendix Immigration Salary List.
✅ Apply the relevant salary floor + 100% going rate.
✅ Ensure the worker meets visa requirements (language, maintenance, etc.).
✅ Be aware of dependent restrictions for RQF 3–5 roles.
💡 Tip: If relying on transitional salary bands, the worker must have already held leave in the same SOC code before July 2025.
6️⃣ Full List of Occupations on the ISL (as of July 2025)
Below is the complete list of SOC codes currently on the ISL, with applicable thresholds:
SOC Code | Job Type | Areas Covered | Salary Floor (Annual / Hourly) |
1212 | Fishing boat masters | Scotland only | £33,400 / £17.13 |
1232 | Care managers and proprietors | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
2111 | Chemical scientists (nuclear) | Scotland only | £39,900 / £20.46 |
2112 | Biological scientists | UK-wide | £40,300 / £20.67 |
2115 | Archaeologists | UK-wide | £40,400 / £20.72 |
2142 | Graphic & multimedia designers | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
3111 | Lab technicians (3+ yrs exp) | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
3212 | Pharmaceutical technicians | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
3411 | Artists | UK-wide | £38,200 / £19.59 |
3414 | Ballet/contemporary dancers | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
3415 | Skilled orchestral musicians | UK-wide | £37,500 / £19.23 |
3416 | Arts officers/directors | UK-wide | £38,100 / £19.54 |
5119 | Fishing trades | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
5213 | High-integrity pipe welders | UK-wide | £34,900 / £17.90 |
5235 | Boat/ship builders | Scotland only | £33,700 / £17.28 |
5312 | Stonemasons | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
5313 | Bricklayers | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
5314 | Roofers/tilers/slaters | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
5316 | Carpenters/joiners | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
5319 | Retrofitters | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
6129 | Racing grooms, stud hands, etc. | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
6131 | Nursing auxiliaries | UK-wide | £25,000 / £12.82 |
6135 | Care workers (CQC-reg only in England) | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
6136 | Senior care workers | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
9119 | Fishing deckhands (3+ yrs exp) | UK-wide | £33,400 / £17.13 |
7️⃣ Need Support?
Sponsorship rules under the ISL are detailed and subject to change. We help UK employers stay compliant when hiring under the Skilled Worker route - advising on:
SOC code selection,
Salary benchmarking,
Sponsor licence compliance,
Visa applications and renewals.
📩 Get in touch if you’d like advice tailored to your business needs any why not try our eligibility tool to help you with SOC codes and salary thresholds.
8️⃣ ISL Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ISL?
The Immigration Salary List sets fixed thresholds for shortage occupations under the Skilled Worker route.
Can I pay less if I sponsor a “new entrant”?
No. ISL-listed jobs are excluded from the new entrant discount. You must meet full salary rules.
Do part-time jobs qualify?
Yes, as long as the pro-rated salary meets the list floor and going rate.
What if the salary drops below the threshold?
The visa may be refused and the sponsor may face enforcement action.
Where is the ISL published?
In Appendix Immigration Salary List on GOV.UK.
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