Salary rules decide more 482 nominations than almost anything else. An employer can have the right occupation and a genuine role. However, if the pay does not meet the thresholds, the nomination fails. For 2026-27, the thresholds have increased again through annual indexation.
This guide explains the three salary concepts every sponsor and applicant must understand. They are the Core Skills Income Threshold, the Specialist Skills Income Threshold, and the annual market salary rate. For the visa basics, start with our Skills in Demand visa guide.
The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)
The CSIT applies to nominations in the Core Skills stream of the subclass 482 visa. For nomination applications lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the CSIT is AUD 79,423. By comparison, it was $76,515 for 2025-26.
The CSIT also applies to Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 nominations. As a result, the same salary floor follows many workers from their temporary visa into their permanent pathway.
What the threshold means in practice
The worker’s guaranteed annual earnings must meet or exceed the CSIT. Non-monetary benefits do not count towards it. For example, accommodation or a car allowance cannot fill the gap. Therefore, the base package must clear the line on its own.
The Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)
The SSIT applies to the Specialist Skills stream of the subclass 482 visa. For nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the SSIT is AUD 146,576. It was $141,210 in 2025-26.
The Specialist Skills stream trades a higher salary for a broader occupation gate. Because the stream targets high earners, the occupation list constraints differ from the Core Skills stream. However, the salary bar is strict, so most nominations still run through the Core Skills stream.
The annual market salary rate (AMSR)
Meeting a threshold is only half the test. The employer must also pay the market rate for the role. This is the annual market salary rate, or AMSR.
The AMSR is what an equivalent Australian worker earns, or would earn, for the same work at the same location. Where the worker will earn less than AUD 250,000 a year, the employer must show three things. First, the AMSR was determined correctly. Second, the overseas worker will not be paid less than the AMSR. Third, both the AMSR and the worker’s pay meet the relevant income threshold.
How employers prove the AMSR
Where an equivalent Australian worker exists, their pay and the applicable industrial instrument set the benchmark. Where no equivalent worker exists, employers rely on relevant information instead. For example, award classifications, reputable remuneration surveys and salary-stated job advertisements can all support the rate. Generic market data alone risks a refusal, so the evidence must fit the actual role.
Indexation: why the numbers move every July
Skilled visa income thresholds are indexed annually in line with average weekly ordinary time earnings. Changes apply from 1 July each year. The threshold that matters is the one in force on the day the nomination is lodged. Therefore, a nomination planned in June may face higher numbers if it slips into July.
Employers should build indexation into offers for sponsored roles. A salary that scrapes past this year’s threshold may fall short at renewal or at the permanent residence stage.
How the salary rules fit the wider nomination
Salary is one layer of a compliant nomination. The occupation must be eligible, the position genuine, and labour market testing done correctly. Our 482 visa requirements checklist puts the layers in order. In addition, advertising rules interact with salary, because some job advertisements must state the salary. See our guide to labour market testing for the 482 visa for those details.
What counts as guaranteed annual earnings
The thresholds are measured against guaranteed annual earnings. This means the money the worker is assured of receiving each year. Base salary is the core of it. Agreed, guaranteed allowances paid regularly can also form part of the figure. However, uncertain amounts do not count. For example, discretionary bonuses, overtime that depends on rosters, and commissions with no floor all fall outside the guarantee.
Employers should state the guaranteed figure clearly in the employment contract. Then the nomination, the contract and the payslips should all tell the same story. Inconsistent numbers across documents are a common and avoidable reason for refusals.
Practical planning for employers
Build the thresholds into your hiring budget before you advertise. If a role pays near the line, remember indexation. A nomination lodged after 1 July faces the new year’s figure, not last year’s. In addition, think ahead to permanent residency. Because the CSIT also applies to subclass 186 nominations, a salary that only just clears today’s threshold may need a raise before the permanent stage. Planning the salary path once, at the start, is cheaper than fixing it under deadline pressure later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CSIT for 2026-27?
The Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 for nomination applications lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. It applies to the 482 Core Skills stream and to subclass 186 nominations.
What is the SSIT for 2026-27?
The Specialist Skills Income Threshold is AUD 146,576 for nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. It applies to the Specialist Skills stream of the subclass 482 visa.
Can benefits like a car or housing count towards the threshold?
No. The thresholds are assessed on guaranteed annual earnings, excluding non-monetary benefits. Employers must provide such benefits in addition to the qualifying salary, not instead of it.
What is the annual market salary rate?
The AMSR is what an equivalent Australian worker earns, or would earn, for the same work at the same location. Sponsored workers earning under AUD 250,000 must be paid at least the AMSR, and the AMSR must meet the relevant threshold.
Which year’s threshold applies to my nomination?
The threshold in force on the day the nomination application is lodged. Thresholds are indexed each 1 July, so timing a lodgement around the new financial year can change the required salary.
By Sam Kanjo, Migration Lawyer, Skyline Migration Lawyers, Melbourne.
Check your sponsored salary before you lodge
We review nominations against the current thresholds and market rate rules so employers lodge with confidence. Call us on 03 8108 8748 or email info@skylinemigrationlawyers.com.au to arrange a consultation.
This article provides general information only. It is not legal advice and does not take account of your personal circumstances. For advice about your situation, please contact a registered migration lawyer or agent.
