UK Skilled Worker Points Calculator

Introduction

The UK Skilled Worker visa is built around a points-based system. In everyday terms, that means the Home Office looks at a handful of defined criteria and gives each one a points value. Some of those criteria are effectively non-negotiable, such as having a sponsored job, meeting the required skill level, and satisfying the English language requirement. Others are tradeable, meaning they can help lift your score high enough to reach the usual target. This calculator gives you a fast estimate of how those pieces fit together.

People often hear that they need 70 points and assume the process is one simple yes-or-no test. In practice, it is more structured than that. The usual route starts with a block of mandatory points, then adds tradeable points from factors like salary, shortage occupation status, or a relevant PhD. The purpose of this page is to turn that structure into something easier to understand. It will not tell you with certainty whether a visa will be granted, but it can show where your score is strong, where it is thin, and which categories matter most.

This page uses a simplified model so that you can learn the scoring logic quickly. Official UK immigration rules are more detailed than any short web tool can capture. Salary rules in particular can depend on the occupation code, the going rate for that role, and whether special discounts or transitional provisions apply. Because of that, treat the output as an educational estimate, not as a substitute for the latest Home Office guidance or personalised legal advice.

How to use this calculator

Start by working through the six dropdown lists in the form below. Each list represents one of the main categories used in this simplified Skilled Worker scoring model. Choose the option that best matches your actual situation, not the option you hope will apply later. When every field has been selected, the calculator automatically totals the points and shows a breakdown table so you can see exactly where your score comes from.

A practical way to use the tool is to think in two stages. First, confirm the foundations: do you have a licensed sponsor, is the job at the required skill level, and can you prove English at the correct standard? Those items normally supply the mandatory core points. Second, look at the tradeable categories. If you are already close to 70, a stronger salary band, shortage occupation status, or a relevant PhD may make the difference. If you are far below 70, the result can show that the problem is not a small gap but a more fundamental eligibility issue.

1. Select every answer once. The result box will stay in guidance mode until all six categories have a choice.
2. Read the points breakdown table. It shows the selected option and the points added from each category.
3. Compare the total with 70. Reaching or exceeding 70 may mean you meet the usual points threshold under this simplified model.
4. Use the shortfall message if needed. If you are below 70, the calculator tells you how many additional points you would need to find.

If you want to experiment, change one field at a time and watch the result update. That is often the quickest way to understand the system. For example, you can see how moving from a middle salary band to a higher salary band changes the total, or how a relevant PhD might compensate for a weaker tradeable category elsewhere. This kind of side-by-side comparison is useful when you are deciding whether a particular job offer is likely to support a Skilled Worker application.

How the UK Skilled Worker points system works

The UK Skilled Worker visa uses a points-based immigration system. You must usually score at least 70 points across a mix of mandatory and tradeable criteria. This calculator helps you estimate your score based on common factors such as having a licensed sponsor, your job skill level, English language ability, salary, shortage occupation status, and any relevant PhD qualifications.

Your total here is an estimate only. It does not replace the official rules or personalised advice from a qualified immigration adviser.

Core (mandatory) points

The following elements are typically mandatory for the Skilled Worker route and together normally make up 50 points:

• Job offer from a licensed sponsor – your UK employer must hold a valid sponsor licence and issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship for an eligible role.
• Job at the required skill level – the role must usually be at RQF Level 3 or above, roughly comparable to A-level standard or higher.
• English language at CEFR B1 or above – you must show English ability in speaking, listening, reading, and writing at the required level through an approved test, qualifications, or nationality.

If you do not meet these core conditions, you will not qualify for a Skilled Worker visa, even if your overall points from other factors look high. That is why the calculator places so much emphasis on the first three categories. They are not just helpful points boosters; they are the backbone of the route.

Tradeable points

Once the core conditions are satisfied, you add tradeable points from salary, shortage occupation status, and certain PhD-level qualifications to reach or exceed the typical 70-point threshold. These points are called tradeable because different combinations can be used to make up your total. A lower salary in some scenarios may be balanced by another recognised factor, while a stronger salary might reduce reliance on a shortage occupation or academic qualification.

That tradeable structure is one reason this calculator is helpful even for people who are not ready to apply yet. It lets you test how close you are under the broad logic of the route. Someone who already has the 50 mandatory points may only need one strong tradeable category to cross the line. Someone missing one of the mandatory categories, by contrast, may discover that the issue is not a simple salary shortfall at all.

Key formulas for your total points

This calculator uses a simple additive model. For each factor, you select the option that applies to you, the calculator assigns points, and the points are added together.

In mathematical terms, the total points (T) are:

T = Pjob + Pskill + Penglish + Psalary + Pshortage + PPhD

The same relationship in MathML is:

After the calculator computes T, it compares that total with the usual target of 70 points:

• T ≥ 70 – you may meet the general points requirement, subject to all other eligibility conditions.
• T < 70 – you are likely below the standard points requirement, based on the simplified assumptions used here.

This formula is intentionally straightforward. The real immigration rules can include additional detail, but the core idea is still the same: add the points from the relevant categories, then test whether the total reaches the threshold while also satisfying the mandatory requirements.

Points by category

Job offer from a licensed sponsor

Points used in this tool:

• Yes – 20 points
• No – 0 points

The employer must be approved by the Home Office and appear on the list of licensed sponsors. Without this, a Skilled Worker application is usually not possible under the standard rules, so these points are best understood as part of the route's foundation rather than a flexible bonus.

Job at the required skill level

Points used in this tool:

• Yes (RQF 3 or higher) – 20 points
• No – 0 points

The job must be in an eligible occupation code at the correct skill level. A genuine job offer alone is not enough if the role itself does not meet the route's occupational standards.

English language proficiency

Points used in this tool:

• CEFR B1 or above – 10 points
• Below B1 / cannot prove English – 0 points

Most applicants need to pass an approved Secure English Language Test, hold an approved English-taught degree, or be a national of a majority English-speaking country to claim these points. In real applications, the evidence is just as important as the headline level.

Annual salary bands

This calculator simplifies the salary rules into three broad bands:

• £25,600 or more – 20 points
• £23,040 to £25,599 – 10 points
• Below £23,040 – 0 points

In reality, the Skilled Worker rules are more detailed and compare your salary to a going rate for your specific occupation as well as general salary thresholds. This tool does not model every special case, but it does show the broad idea that stronger salary evidence can materially improve the tradeable side of the score.

Shortage occupation status

Points used in this tool:

• Role is on the Shortage Occupation List – 20 points
• Not on the list – 0 points

The Shortage Occupation List includes roles for which there are not enough resident workers in the UK. Working in a shortage occupation can make it easier to qualify, but you must still meet other requirements such as sponsorship, skill level, and salary rules where relevant.

Relevant PhD

Points used in this tool:

• STEM PhD relevant to the job – 20 points
• Other relevant PhD – 10 points
• No relevant PhD – 0 points

The PhD must be relevant to the job you are being sponsored for, and in the case of a STEM PhD, the subject must fall within science, technology, engineering, or mathematics as defined by the guidance. Academic qualifications can therefore help, but only when the immigration rules recognise the connection to the role itself.

Comparison table: criteria and points

How to interpret your result

When you use the calculator, you will see a total points figure based on your selections. The result is easiest to interpret if you separate the score from the wider legal question. A good score is helpful, but immigration eligibility still depends on accurate occupation coding, acceptable evidence, and the exact rules in force when you apply.

• 70 points or more – You may meet the standard points requirement for the Skilled Worker route, assuming the information you entered matches the formal criteria. You will still need to satisfy all other immigration requirements.
• 50 to 69 points – You are close but may fall short of the general points requirement under the simplified model. You might need to strengthen one or more tradeable categories, such as salary, shortage occupation status, or a relevant PhD if applicable.
• Below 50 points – It is unlikely you will meet the Skilled Worker points requirement on the basis of the factors included here. In many cases this means the issue lies in the mandatory criteria rather than just the tradeable ones.

If you are below the target, the most useful next step is usually not to guess but to identify the exact gap. Are you missing sponsorship? Is the salary in the middle band instead of the highest band? Is the job outside the eligible skill level? The breakdown table is designed to make that diagnosis easier.

Worked example

Imagine an applicant with the following situation:

• They have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer with a sponsor licence.
• The role is at RQF Level 3 or higher.
• They meet the English language requirement at CEFR B1.
• Their salary is £26,000 per year.
• The job is not on the Shortage Occupation List.
• They do not hold a PhD.

Using the calculator logic:

• Job offer from licensed sponsor: 20 points
• Job at required skill level: 20 points
• English language B1 or above: 10 points
• Salary £25,600 or more: 20 points
• Shortage occupation: 0 points
• Relevant PhD: 0 points

T = 20 + 20 + 10 + 20 + 0 + 0 = 70 points

On this simplified model, the applicant reaches 70 points and appears to meet the general threshold for the Skilled Worker route. The next check would be whether the occupation code is genuinely eligible and whether the salary meets any occupation-specific going rate requirements. That is an important reminder: the calculator can tell you the score pattern, but the official rules still decide the real outcome.

Limitations and assumptions of this calculator

This tool is designed as a quick guide, not a full legal or policy analysis. It relies on several important assumptions and simplifications:

• Simplified salary rules – The official Skilled Worker rules include multiple salary thresholds, going rates linked to occupation codes, and specific discounts. This calculator uses broad salary bands instead of modelling every case.
• Standard route focus – The logic is based on the typical Skilled Worker route. It does not fully account for all specialist arrangements, transitional rules, or sector-specific concessions.
• Shortage occupation list changes – Whether a role is on the Shortage Occupation List can change over time. The calculator simply uses your answer and does not verify that your occupation code is actually on the latest list.
• PhD relevance – The tool assumes that if you select a PhD option, it is genuinely relevant to the role as defined by Home Office guidance. In real applications, this relevance can be assessed in more detail.
• No verification of evidence – The calculator does not check whether you can provide the necessary documents. Home Office decisions rely heavily on the evidence, not just the headline facts.
• Rules can change – Immigration rules, salary thresholds, and shortage lists may be updated. A page like this can explain the logic, but it cannot freeze a moving legal framework.

Because of these limitations, your result should be treated as indicative only. A total of 70 points in this calculator does not guarantee that a visa application will be approved, and a lower score does not necessarily mean there are no options. It means only that, under this simplified scoring model, your current combination of factors does or does not reach the usual threshold.

Important disclaimer

This calculator is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute immigration advice or legal advice. Your actual eligibility for a UK Skilled Worker visa depends on your full circumstances, the exact terms of your job offer, and the current UK immigration rules at the time you apply.

If your situation is complex, you are close to the threshold, or you are unsure how the rules apply to you, consider speaking to a qualified immigration adviser or solicitor who can review your case in detail.