One of the first questions anyone planning to move to the UK asks is: what will I actually earn, and is it enough to live comfortably? The answer varies enormously by sector, location, and experience level — but there are clear patterns. This guide breaks down realistic salary expectations across the most common sectors for migrants, alongside what those salaries translate to in actual take-home pay after UK tax.
The salary threshold floor
If you are coming on a Skilled Worker visa, the current minimum salary requirement is £38,700 per year for most roles (or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher). This effectively sets a floor on what you need to be earning to qualify — and it means the UK is actively selecting for higher-skilled, higher-paid roles in its immigration system.
The practical implication: most migrants arriving via the Skilled Worker route will be earning at least £38,700 and often significantly more. Roles below this threshold are not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Technology and software
Technology remains one of the strongest sectors for internationally recruited workers. Demand for software engineers, data professionals, cybersecurity specialists, and product managers has stayed resilient even as the wider tech sector experienced some contraction in 2023–2024.
Realistic salary ranges in 2026:
- Junior / mid-level software engineer: £40,000–£65,000
- Senior software engineer: £65,000–£95,000
- Engineering manager / tech lead: £80,000–£120,000+
- Data scientist / ML engineer: £55,000–£90,000
- Cybersecurity analyst / engineer: £45,000–£80,000
London pays a premium of roughly 15–25% over equivalent roles in Manchester, Bristol, or Leeds, though the cost of living difference often offsets this. Many technology roles are now hybrid or remote, which opens up options to live outside London while drawing closer to London salaries.
Take-home on £60,000: approximately £3,630 per month after income tax and National Insurance. Take-home on £80,000: approximately £4,580 per month.
Healthcare and NHS
The NHS is one of the largest employers of internationally trained workers in the UK, particularly nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, and care workers. The Health and Care Worker visa — a sub-category of the Skilled Worker route — offers lower visa fees and an IHS exemption for certain NHS roles, which significantly reduces the upfront cost of migration.
Salary ranges vary by role and NHS pay band:
- Newly qualified nurse (Band 5): approximately £29,000–£34,000 (with London weighting up to £36,000+)
- Experienced nurse (Band 6–7): £35,000–£45,000
- Junior doctor (FY1–FY2): approximately £36,000–£45,000
- Specialist registrar / ST3+: £55,000–£75,000
- Consultant: £99,000–£130,000+
Note that some Band 5 nursing roles fall below the general £38,700 threshold but qualify under the health occupation shortage list at a lower rate. This is worth checking specifically for your role when applying.
Finance and professional services
London is one of the world's leading financial centres, and the sector continues to hire internationally in areas including risk, compliance, quantitative analysis, and technology-adjacent roles.
- Financial analyst / associate (banking): £45,000–£70,000
- Accountant (qualified, ACA/ACCA/CIMA): £45,000–£75,000
- Compliance / risk professional: £50,000–£90,000
- Quant / structuring roles (front office): £80,000–£150,000+
Bonuses in finance can significantly augment base salary, but they are variable and should not be relied upon for core financial planning.
Engineering (non-tech)
Civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering all have healthy demand, particularly in infrastructure, energy transition, and housing development.
- Graduate / early career engineer: £28,000–£38,000
- Mid-level engineer (5+ years): £40,000–£60,000
- Senior / chartered engineer: £55,000–£85,000
- Project manager (large infrastructure): £60,000–£100,000+
Education
Teachers trained internationally can work in the UK, though the route often requires assessment or conversion of overseas qualifications. Salaries follow the national pay scales:
- Newly qualified teacher (England): £31,650 (outer London: £36,413; inner London: £38,766)
- Experienced teacher (upper pay range): up to £49,084 (inner London: £60,092)
- Leadership roles (headteacher, deputy): £60,000–£120,000+
Teacher pay falls below the standard visa threshold for some roles, but education is included in the shortage occupation provisions, which allow lower salary thresholds for qualifying positions.
Construction and skilled trades
Electricians, plumbers, construction managers, and civil engineering contractors are in significant demand across the UK. Skilled trades can offer strong earnings, particularly for the self-employed.
- Electrician (NICEIC-qualified): £35,000–£55,000 employed; often higher self-employed
- Plumber: £35,000–£60,000 depending on specialism
- Site manager / construction manager: £45,000–£70,000
- Project quantity surveyor: £45,000–£75,000
What do these salaries actually feel like?
Gross salary is only part of the picture. Here is what selected salaries look like in monthly take-home pay under the 2026 UK tax system:
| Gross Salary | Monthly Take-Home (approx.) | |---|---| | £38,700 | ~£2,540 | | £45,000 | ~£2,850 | | £55,000 | ~£3,360 | | £70,000 | ~£4,080 | | £90,000 | ~£4,990 |
These are approximate figures for a standard tax code with no pension contributions shown. Student loan repayments and pension deductions reduce take-home further.
Location matters
Salaries in London are typically 10–25% higher than the national median for equivalent roles, but London's rents, transport costs, and council tax bills are also significantly higher. For many migrants, cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, or Edinburgh offer a better quality of life relative to income — lower housing costs with salaries that are often only modestly below London equivalents.
A practical first step
Before accepting a job offer, use our take-home pay calculator to model your exact net monthly income. Then use the relocate hub to compare what that income means in different UK cities. A £50,000 salary supports a very different lifestyle in Leeds compared to London — knowing the difference before you sign is worth taking the time to calculate properly.