Written by Immigrad · Registered Migration Agent · MARN 1805710 · Last updated September 2026
For a nomination lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, a Core Skills stream worker must be paid at least AUD79,423 a year, and a Specialist Skills stream worker at least AUD146,576. The salary must also be no less than the annual market salary rate for the role, whichever figure is higher.
There are two salary tests, not one
Employers frequently prepare a nomination against the income threshold alone and are surprised when the Department asks for market salary evidence. The Migration Regulations impose two separate requirements, and a nomination must satisfy both.
The first is the income threshold. For the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) Core Skills stream and for subclass 186 nominations lodged on or after 7 December 2024, that threshold is the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT). For the Specialist Skills stream it is the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT). For subclass 494 and subclass 187 nominations it is the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT).
The second is the annual market salary rate (AMSR) — 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. If the market rate for the position sits above the threshold, the market rate is what you must pay.
The thresholds for 2026–27
| Threshold | Applies to | 1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2027 | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) | SID 482 Core Skills stream; ENS 186 nominations lodged on or after 7 December 2024 | AUD79,423 | AUD76,515 |
| Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) | SID 482 Specialist Skills stream | AUD146,576 | AUD141,210 |
| Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) | Subclass 494 (SESR) and subclass 187 (RSMS) | AUD79,423 | AUD76,515 |
The threshold that applies is the one in force on the day the nomination is lodged, not the day the position was offered. Where an employer will pay the worker an annual salary of AUD250,000 or more, the Department does not require the AMSR to be separately established.
What the Department will refuse
The Department has been explicit that where an employer intends to pay a nominated overseas worker less than the equivalent Australian worker, the nomination will be refused. Both the AMSR and the worker guaranteed annual earnings must sit at or above the relevant threshold, and non-monetary benefits such as accommodation or a vehicle cannot be counted towards it — they must be provided on top.
Do non-monetary benefits count towards the Core Skills Income Threshold?
No. The Department of Home Affairs states that the threshold does not include non-monetary benefits such as accommodation or a car. Those benefits must be provided in addition to the threshold amount. Only guaranteed annual earnings, excluding non-monetary benefits, are assessed against the CSIT, SSIT or TSMIT.
What if the market salary rate is higher than the income threshold?
You must pay the market rate. The income threshold is a floor, not a target. Where a Fair Work instrument, state industrial instrument or transitional instrument covers the role, the annual market salary rate is determined by that instrument, or by relevant employment documents provided the amount is not less than the instrument.
Is the income threshold the same for a subclass 494 visa?
The figure is currently the same but the instrument is different. Subclass 494 and subclass 187 nominations are assessed against the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, which is AUD79,423 for nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. The two thresholds are indexed separately and may diverge in future years.
Do the skilled visa income thresholds change each year?
Yes. Skilled visa income thresholds are indexed annually in line with changes to Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings, and the change takes effect on 1 July. If you lodge a sponsorship or nomination application on or after that date, you must meet the threshold applying to that financial year.
Getting the salary evidence right before you lodge
Market salary evidence is one of the most common reasons an otherwise sound nomination attracts a request for further information. Immigrad prepares annual market salary rate assessments and nomination submissions for employers Australia-wide by video consultation. Book a consultation to have your position benchmarked before you lodge.
Related reading: 482 visa costs for employers in 2026, the SAF levy explained, labour market testing rules, and standard business sponsorship step by step.
This page is general information only and is current as at September 2026. It does not take your circumstances into account. Income thresholds, market salary rules and processing times published by the Department of Home Affairs change, and complex cases need personal advice from a registered migration agent.