Salary is one of the first things employers and applicants need to get right when planning an Australian skilled migration application, and the rules changed again from 1 July 2026. There isn’t one universal “skilled visa salary” that applies across the board, the Australia skilled visa salary requirements differ depending on whether you’re looking at an employer-sponsored visa, a points-tested visa, or a regional employer-sponsored pathway. From 1 July 2026, the Department of Home Affairs indexed the main skilled visa income thresholds in line with wage movements, and this article focuses on the three visas most affected.
the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186), and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494). Points-tested visas subclasses 189, 190 and 491 work differently, and we’ll cover why further down. For a broader look at where salary fits into eligibility overall, our guide to Australia migration eligibility is a useful starting point.
Australia Skilled Visa Salary Requirements What Changed on 1 July 2026?
Australia’s skilled visa income thresholds are indexed periodically to keep pace with wage growth, so that sponsored migrant salaries don’t fall behind what comparable Australian workers are paid. From 1 July 2026, three of the main thresholds increased: the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) rose from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,423, the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) rose from AUD 141,210 to AUD 146,576, and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) rose from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,423 now sitting at the same figure as CSIT.
These new thresholds apply to nominations made on or after 1 July 2026; nominations lodged before that date are generally assessed against the threshold that applied at the time. One important structural change for 2026 is that TSMIT has now been brought into the Migration Regulations’ definitions alongside CSIT, so the two are expected to move together in future indexation rounds.
The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) in 2026
CSIT is the income threshold relevant to the Core Skills stream of the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, and it also applies to relevant nominations under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). From 1 July 2026, CSIT sits at AUD 79,423, up from the previous AUD 76,515. Employers nominating a position under the Core Skills stream need to offer at least this amount but meeting CSIT alone isn’t necessarily enough, since the nominated salary also needs to satisfy the Annual Market Salary Rate where that figure is higher, which we cover in more detail below.
Eligibility for the Core Skills stream also depends on the occupation itself sitting on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL), so salary is only one part of a broader eligibility picture.
The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) in 2026
SSIT applies to the Specialist Skills stream of subclass 482, which is designed for highly paid, highly skilled applicants across a narrower band of occupations spanning ANZSCO major groups 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. From 1 July 2026, SSIT increased to AUD 146,576, up from AUD 141,210.
Because this stream is built around high-income positions, the threshold sits considerably above CSIT, and a higher salary on its own doesn’t guarantee eligibility, the applicant still needs to meet the occupation, skills, work experience, English and sponsorship requirements attached to the stream. If you’re weighing which 482 stream fits your circumstances, it’s worth understanding how the visa’s broader work conditions apply once you’re granted, since salary compliance doesn’t end at the nomination stage.
Subclass 494 and TSMIT
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa uses TSMIT rather than CSIT or SSIT. From 1 July 2026, TSMIT increased to AUD 79,423, matching the new CSIT figure exactly. Regional location alone doesn’t create an automatic salary discount employers nominating under subclass 494 still need to meet the applicable threshold, and where relevant, comply with any specific labour agreement or Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) arrangements, which operate as their own separate framework rather than a general concession available to every regional employer.
CSIT vs SSIT vs TSMIT vs AMSR: Why So Many Thresholds?
Australia’s employer-sponsored migration system uses different thresholds because it’s built around different categories of skilled positions. CSIT and TSMIT (now numerically aligned at AUD 79,423) apply to Core Skills and Skilled Regional nominations respectively, SSIT (AUD 146,576) applies to the smaller, higher-paid Specialist Skills stream, and the Annual Market Salary Rate, or AMSR, sits alongside all three as a separate benchmark.
AMSR represents the salary an equivalent Australian worker would be paid for the same role, based on evidence such as enterprise agreements, awards, comparable employee remuneration, or job advertisements. Meeting the income threshold does not automatically mean a nominated salary satisfies the market salary requirement if AMSR for a given role and location is higher than CSIT, SSIT or TSMIT, the higher figure becomes the one that governs compliance.
Does Superannuation Count Toward the Threshold?
This is one of the most common points of confusion. The income thresholds are generally assessed against guaranteed base earnings not an inflated “total package” figure that bundles in superannuation, discretionary bonuses, commission or overtime. An advertised “AUD 85,000 package” is not the same thing as an AUD 85,000 base salary for visa purposes, and employment contracts should clearly separate guaranteed remuneration from variable components. Applicants weighing a job offer should ask their employer directly whether the quoted figure is inclusive or exclusive of superannuation, since this distinction can be the difference between meeting and falling short of the applicable threshold.
Do 189, 190 and 491 Have Salary Requirements?
No and this is a common source of confusion for applicants researching Australia skilled visa salary requirements generally. Subclasses 189, 190 and 491 are points-tested visas rather than employer-sponsored visas, so they don’t carry a CSIT, SSIT or TSMIT-style income threshold at all. Eligibility instead runs through SkillSelect, points, occupation, English, and for 190 and 491 state or territory nomination or family sponsorship. Earning a higher salary in your current job doesn’t add points or improve your invitation prospects under these pathways; it’s simply not part of how they’re assessed. If you’re trying to work out which pathway suits your situation, our overview of Australia PR pathways sets out how the points-tested and employer-sponsored routes differ more broadly.
What Happens If an Offered Salary Is Below the Threshold?
An employer generally cannot proceed with a nomination if the offered salary sits below the applicable threshold, since the nomination itself needs to demonstrate compliance with CSIT, SSIT or TSMIT as relevant, alongside the market salary requirement. In some cases, the salary package can be restructured before nomination to meet the threshold, but this needs to reflect a genuine, guaranteed increase rather than reclassifying existing variable pay. Labour agreements and DAMAs can, in specific circumstances, provide arrangement-specific concessions, but these are not a general workaround available to every employer or applicant, each arrangement has its own occupation list, salary provisions and eligibility rules that need to be checked individually.
Salary Is Only One Part of the Picture
Meeting the relevant income threshold does not, by itself, guarantee visa approval. Employer-sponsored skilled visas also require an approved sponsor, an eligible nominated occupation, a genuine position, and depending on the visa skills assessment, work experience, English proficiency, health and character requirements. Because thresholds are reviewed and indexed periodically, it’s worth checking the current figures against the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) or the relevant 482 stream immediately before lodging a nomination, rather than relying on figures from a previous financial year.
FAQs
What is the Australia Skilled Visa Salary Requirement in 2026?
From 1 July 2026, the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) and Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) are AUD 79,423, while the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) is AUD 146,576. The applicable threshold depends on the visa stream and nomination pathway.
What is the CSIT for the Subclass 482 visa in 2026?
The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) for the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa is AUD 79,423 from 1 July 2026. However, the nominated salary must also meet the applicable Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR) if it is higher than the threshold.
What is the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) for 2026?
The SSIT is AUD 146,576 from 1 July 2026 for the Specialist Skills stream of the Subclass 482 visa. Meeting this salary threshold alone does not guarantee eligibility, as applicants must also satisfy the relevant occupation, skills, experience, English and sponsorship requirements.
Do Australian skilled visas 189, 190 and 491 have salary requirements?
No. Subclasses 189, 190 and 491 are points-tested visas, so they do not have CSIT, SSIT or TSMIT-style salary thresholds. Their assessment instead involves factors such as points, occupation, English ability and applicable nomination or sponsorship requirements.
Does superannuation count toward the Australian skilled visa salary threshold?
Generally, the relevant salary assessment focuses on guaranteed base earnings, rather than simply using a total package that includes superannuation, discretionary bonuses, commission or overtime. Applicants should check whether an employer’s quoted salary is inclusive or exclusive of superannuation before relying on it for visa purposes.
Need Help Understanding Your Australia Skilled Visa Salary Requirements?
Working out whether a job offer, nomination, or existing salary package actually meets the current CSIT, SSIT or TSMIT and how it stacks up against the Annual Market Salary Rate isn’t always straightforward, especially with the July 2026 indexation in effect. Kangaroo Migration Consultants can help you assess your eligibility for the 482, 186 or 494 pathway, review a salary package against the current thresholds, and work through your broader employer-sponsored visa documentation before you lodge. Get in touch with Kangaroo Migration Consultants today for a review of your skilled visa salary and eligibility position.