Written by Immigrad · Registered Migration Agent · MARN 1805710 · Last updated October 2026
If you plan to sponsor an overseas worker, the 482 visa salary requirements are one of the first things the Department of Home Affairs tests in your nomination. Get the number wrong and the nomination can be refused, no matter how strong the rest of your application is. This guide explains the income thresholds that apply to nominations lodged from 1 July 2026, how the market salary rate works, and how to document it. It is general information, current as at October 2026, and is not a substitute for advice on your particular situation.
What are the 482 visa salary requirements?
For a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) nomination, where you will pay the worker less than AUD250,000 a year, you must show three things. First, you have worked out the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) correctly. Second, you will pay the worker no less than that AMSR, meaning no less than an Australian worker would receive. Third, both the AMSR and the worker’s actual pay (excluding non-monetary benefits) are at or above the relevant income threshold.
The purpose is to stop sponsored workers being paid less than local workers and to protect Australian wages. A nomination where the worker is paid below the equivalent Australian rate will be refused.
What is the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) in 2026?
The CSIT applies to the Core Skills stream of the 482 visa and to Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) nominations lodged on or after 7 December 2024. For nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the CSIT is AUD79,423. It was AUD76,515 for nominations lodged between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
The CSIT is the floor, not the target. If the market rate for the role is higher, the higher figure applies.
What is the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)?
The Specialist Skills stream has its own, higher threshold. For nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the SSIT is AUD146,576 (up from AUD141,210 in the 2025-26 year). Whether a role suits that stream is a separate question, and our article on the Specialist Skills stream and labour market testing covers it.
What salary threshold applies to the 494 visa?
Regional employers using the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494), or the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187), are assessed against the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). For nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 it is AUD79,423. Both the AMSR and the worker’s guaranteed annual earnings must meet it at the time of lodgement. The TSMIT does not count non-monetary benefits such as accommodation or a car, so any such benefits must be provided in addition. See our 494 regional employer guide for the wider requirements.
Quick reference: thresholds by lodgement date
| Threshold | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2026 | 1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| CSIT (482 Core Skills, 186) | AUD76,515 | AUD79,423 |
| SSIT (482 Specialist Skills) | AUD141,210 | AUD146,576 |
| TSMIT (494, 187) | AUD76,515 | AUD79,423 |
Thresholds are indexed each 1 July in line with changes to Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings. The threshold that applies is the one in force on the day you lodge, so timing matters for nominations prepared close to 30 June.
How do you work out the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR)?
The AMSR is what an Australian citizen or permanent resident earns, or would earn, for equivalent full-time work for one year at the same workplace and location. How you prove it depends on whether you have an equivalent Australian worker and whether a Fair Work or state industrial instrument covers the role.
If you employ an equivalent Australian worker
The worker must be in the same workplace and location and doing equivalent work. Someone with more or less experience on a different pay grade is not an equivalent worker. Where an award or enterprise agreement applies, the AMSR is set by that instrument, or by employment documents (such as payslips or contracts) provided the amount is not below the instrument. Where no instrument applies, the employment documents determine the AMSR.
If you do not have an equivalent Australian worker
You rely on relevant market information instead. Home Affairs lists examples such as Jobs and Skills Australia occupation and industry profiles, national job advertisements in English that state the salary, reputable remuneration surveys, and written advice from unions or employer associations. Generic salary data on its own can lead to refusal, so choose evidence that matches the role, location and seniority.
Which salary figure counts: base pay or total package?
The test looks at the worker’s pay excluding non-monetary benefits. In practice, this means you should be clear in the employment contract about guaranteed annual earnings and keep records showing the pay actually delivered. Sponsorship obligations also require you to pay the nominee at least the rate you nominated, which is why salary and compliance are closely linked. Our guide to sponsorship obligations and sponsor monitoring explain what Home Affairs checks after approval.
Common salary mistakes employers make
Using last year’s threshold on a nomination lodged after 1 July is a frequent error. Others include benchmarking against a role at a different seniority, relying on a single job advertisement with no salary detail, forgetting that award rates apply to the role, and counting accommodation or vehicle benefits toward the threshold. Each can undermine an otherwise sound nomination.
Where does salary fit in your total cost and process?
Salary is only one part of the picture. Sponsoring also involves government fees and the Skilling Australia Fund levy, which you can model using our sponsor cost calculator, and read about in 482 visa costs for employers. For the full process, start with our complete guide to sponsoring an employee and download the Employer Sponsorship Readiness Checklist. You can also see our employer-sponsored visa services.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary to sponsor a worker on a 482 visa in 2026?
For Core Skills stream nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 the CSIT is AUD79,423, but you must also pay at least the AMSR for the role, which may be higher.
Does the threshold I pay depend on the date I lodge or the date the visa is granted?
It depends on the date the nomination is lodged. Thresholds change each 1 July.
Can I count accommodation or a car towards the salary threshold?
No. Non-monetary benefits are excluded. They must be provided in addition to the required salary.
What if my industry award pays more than the threshold?
Then the award rate sets the AMSR and you must pay at least that amount.
Is the 494 visa threshold different to the 482?
For nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027 the TSMIT used for the 494 is the same dollar figure as the CSIT, but it is a separate test with its own rules.
Do these figures apply if I pay AUD250,000 or more?
The AMSR and threshold requirements described here apply where the annual salary is below AUD250,000. Higher-paid roles are treated differently, so seek advice.
Need help getting the salary right?
Thresholds, awards and market evidence can interact in ways that are easy to miss, and complex cases need personal advice. Contact Immigrad to speak with a registered migration agent about your sponsorship.
Source: Department of Home Affairs, Salary requirements to nominate a worker, and Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream pages, accessed October 2026. This article is general information only and does not guarantee any visa outcome or processing time.