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Work & skilled workersEffectiveHigh impactVerified

Skills in Demand Salary Thresholds Indexed and Core Skills Occupation List Updated

🇦🇺 AustraliaEmployer Sponsorship1 recorded versionLast change 1 Jul 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 90%

Current rules

The skilled-visa income thresholds have been indexed for the 2026–27 programme year. The Core Skills stream continues to require an occupation on the CSOL. The employer must pay at least the applicable CSIT and AMSR, with the higher salary requirement applying. The CSOL uses ANZSCO 2022 occupation codes for subclass 482 applications. Occupation-specific caveats can restrict sponsorship even where an occupation appears on the CSOL.

Overview

Australia indexed the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) from 1 July. Concurrently, the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) was updated following a review of the labour market.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Employers sponsoring workers through the 482 Core Skills stream
  • Skilled workers applying through the Core Skills stream
  • Workers whose occupations are on the CSOL
  • Workers whose occupation has been added, removed or otherwise changed on the applicable occupation list
  • Employers whose proposed salary is close to the applicable income threshold or market salary rate

What changed in the latest version

Before

The old salary limits were: CSIT: AUD 76,515 SSIT: AUD 141,210 The Core Skills stream required the job title to be on the list of jobs allowed. Employers also had to pay the correct Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR). This is the standard pay for a job in the Australian market. The job list could include jobs with specific extra rules, called caveats.

After

The salary limits for skilled visas changed for the 2026–27 programme year. The Core Skills stream still needs a job from the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL). The employer must pay at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR). They must pay the higher of these two amounts. The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) uses job codes from ANZSCO 2022 for Subclass 482 applications. ANZSCO is the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. Specific extra rules, called caveats, can stop an employer from sponsoring a worker, even if the job is on the CSOL.

This affects employers and skilled workers using Australia's Core Skills stream. Applicants now need to check two things: Is the job on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)? Does the proposed salary meet the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and the market salary rate? Having a skilled job is not enough by itself. The job must be allowed, and the salary rules must also be met.

Explained simply

Think of it like this: Imagine you're playing a game where you need a certain 'score' to get to the next level, and also have a specific 'skill card' to play. Australia just changed two things in this game for people wanting to work there on a Skills in Demand visa. First, the 'score' you need (the Core Skills Income Threshold and Specialist Skills Income Threshold) went up a little bit starting 1 July. This means you now need to earn a bit more to qualify. Second, they changed the list of 'skill cards' (the Core Skills Occupation List) that are accepted. Some skills might have been added, and others might have been removed, after they checked what jobs Australia really needs right now. So, if you're planning to apply, you need to check both the new 'score' requirement and the updated 'skill card' list.

Version history

  1. v1Effective 1 Jul 2026EffectiveHigh impact
    Skills in Demand Salary Thresholds Indexed and Core Skills Occupation List Updated

    The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) changed from 1 July. The Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) also changed after checking what jobs Australia needs.

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