New skilled salary thresholds: CSIT $79,423 and SSIT $146,576 explained for employers
Current as at 3 July 2026. Threshold figures reflect the 1 July 2026 indexation (FY2026‑27). The threshold in force at nomination determines what applies - confirm the current figures at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before lodging.
On 1 July 2026 the skilled visa income thresholds were indexed by 3.8 per cent, in line with growth in Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings (AWOTE). For employers, the headline numbers are a Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) of $79,423 and a Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) of $146,576.
Unlike the 25 per cent jump in visa application charges that landed the same day, this was routine annual indexation. But routine does not mean harmless: a nomination lodged at last year’s salary figure will fail, and offers drafted in June may already be below the floor.
The new thresholds at a glance
| Threshold | FY2025‑26 | FY2026‑27 (from 1 July 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| CSIT - Core Skills Income Threshold (482 Core Skills stream) | $76,515 | $79,423 |
| TSMIT - now aligned to CSIT and auto-indexed annually | $76,515 | $79,423 |
| SSIT - Specialist Skills Income Threshold (482 Specialist Skills stream) | $141,210 | $146,576 |
| Fair Work High Income Threshold | $183,100 | $190,100 |
| SAF levy - 482, annual turnover under $10M | $1,200 per year of visa | $1,200 - unchanged |
| SAF levy - 482, annual turnover $10M or more | $1,800 per year of visa | $1,800 - unchanged |
| SAF levy - 186/494 one-off (under / over $10M turnover) | $3,000 / $5,000 | $3,000 / $5,000 - unchanged |
The Skilling Australians Fund levy amounts did not change on 1 July 2026, and the 482 visa application charge rose separately to $4,015. Some published sources report marginally different indexed threshold figures - check the Home Affairs website for the figure in force on your nomination date.
Who must meet the new floor
The new thresholds apply to new nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. In practical terms:
- New 482 Core Skills nominations must offer annual earnings of at least $79,423 or the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), whichever is higher.
- New 482 Specialist Skills nominations must meet the $146,576 SSIT.
- Employer-sponsored permanent applications under the subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme are tested against the same income framework at nomination.
- Existing visa holders and already-approved nominations are not affected. Indexation is not retrospective - a worker sponsored in March 2026 at $77,000 does not fall out of compliance because the threshold moved.
- Nominations lodged on or before 30 June 2026 are assessed against the old threshold, even if decided after 1 July.
The AMSR trap: the threshold is a floor, not a target
The most common employer error we see is treating CSIT as the salary to offer. It is not. The nomination must satisfy both limbs: the guaranteed earnings must be at or above CSIT, and at or above what an equivalent Australian worker would earn in that role and location - the AMSR. Where the market rate for the role is $95,000, offering $79,423 will not succeed. Where the market rate is $70,000, the role cannot simply be topped up to CSIT without scrutiny of whether the position is genuine at that salary.
Evidence of AMSR - enterprise agreements, remuneration surveys, advertising for equivalent roles, pay records of equivalent Australian employees - should be assembled before lodgement, not after a request for information arrives.
Payroll audit checklist for sponsors
Before your next nomination round, we recommend working through the following:
- Re-price open offers. Any letter of offer drafted before July at $76,515–$79,422 needs to be reissued before a nomination is lodged.
- Check what counts as earnings. The threshold is tested against guaranteed annual earnings - base salary and agreed non-discretionary amounts. Discretionary bonuses and superannuation generally do not rescue a shortfall.
- Review part-time and pro-rata arrangements. Earnings are assessed on a full-time equivalent basis; reduced-hours arrangements need careful structuring.
- Diarise the next indexation. TSMIT is now aligned to CSIT and indexed automatically each 1 July. Build an annual salary review for sponsored roles into your compliance calendar.
- Map permanent residence timing. A 482 holder heading to a 186 nomination will be tested against the threshold in force at that later nomination - budget for the higher figure, not today’s.
- Confirm the levy budget. SAF amounts are unchanged, but they remain payable per year of visa sought and are refundable only in narrow circumstances.
Why this matters more in 2026‑27
The 2026‑27 Migration Program lifted the Employer Sponsored category to 58,040 places - the largest allocation in the program. Employers who get nominations right the first time will benefit most from that capacity; nominations refused on salary grounds burn both the fee and months of lead time. Our 482 eligibility checker and fee estimator reflect the new FY2026‑27 settings.
Get your sponsorship settings reviewed
We act for sponsoring employers across the Skills in Demand (482) and employer-sponsored permanent programs - from standard business sponsorship through to nomination strategy and salary benchmarking. If the new thresholds touch any role in your pipeline, book a consultation and we will audit your settings before the Department does.