# Australia Work Visa Salary Threshold 2026: What Indians Must Be Paid > The Core Skills Income Threshold is AUD 79,423 and the Specialist threshold AUD 146,576 for nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. How the market-rate test works for Indian workers. _Published: 2026-10-26 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1195_ ## TL;DR For Skills in Demand (subclass 482) nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, the salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 and the annual market salary rate. The Specialist Skills stream needs at least AUD 146,576; the same Core threshold applies to the permanent ENS 186 Direct Entry stream. ## Key takeaways - Core Skills Income Threshold: AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 (up from AUD 76,515). - Specialist Skills Income Threshold: AUD 146,576 for the same period (up from AUD 141,210). - The salary must also match the annual market salary rate; employers paying AUD 250,000 or more do not need to show the market rate. - The ENS subclass 186 Direct Entry stream uses the same AUD 79,423 Core threshold. - The subclass 482 visa applicant charge is AUD 4,015; Home Affairs publishes no INR amounts. **According to Australia's Department of Home Affairs, the salary in a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) nomination lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027 must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 and the annual market salary rate. Specialist Skills stream roles need at least AUD 146,576.** ## Article All thresholds, fees and timelines below come from Home Affairs pages and reports, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Home Affairs states amounts in Australian dollars only, so this article does not convert them to rupees. For every Australian visa route open to Indians, see our Australia visa guide. ### What are the salary thresholds for 2026-27? Australia indexed both Skills in Demand thresholds on 1 July 2026. The figure that applies to you depends on the date your employer lodges the nomination, not the date you apply for the visa or start work. ThresholdNominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027Nominations lodged 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026Used forCore Skills Income Threshold (CSIT)AUD 79,423AUD 76,515Subclass 482 Core Skills stream; ENS subclass 186 Direct EntrySpecialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT)AUD 146,576AUD 141,210Subclass 482 Specialist Skills streamIf your employer lodged the nomination before 1 July 2026, the 2025-26 figure applies to that nomination. A nomination lodged now must meet the 2026-27 figure. ### Is the threshold the only salary test? No. In the Core Skills stream there are two tests, and the nominated salary must pass both: - It must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423. - It must equal the annual market salary rate, meaning what an Australian worker in the same role is paid. In practice, the higher of the two numbers is your floor. A role whose market rate is above AUD 79,423 must pay that market rate; a role whose market rate is lower still cannot go below the threshold. Home Affairs adds one exception: employers paying AUD 250,000 or more do not need to show the market rate. The Specialist Skills stream sets a single, much higher floor of AUD 146,576 and is limited to occupations in ANZSCO Major Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6. Trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers are excluded from it. ### Which stream fits an Indian worker's salary? - Offer between AUD 79,423 and AUD 146,576: Core Skills stream, provided the occupation is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and the pay matches the market rate. - Offer of AUD 146,576 or more: the Specialist Skills stream is open if the occupation sits in ANZSCO Major Group 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6. - Offer below AUD 79,423: the role does not qualify for a 482 nomination lodged in 2026-27. Both streams require at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the nominated occupation or a related field, a skills assessment where your occupation makes one mandatory, and English of at least IELTS 5.0 in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking unless you are exempt. Neither stream has an age requirement, and both give a visa for up to 4 years. The Core Skills page adds that you may work only for your sponsor or an associated entity. ### Does the threshold also apply to permanent residence? Yes, for the employer route. The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) Direct Entry stream requires nomination for a CSOL occupation by an actively and lawfully operating Australian employer, with pay of at least the market rate and the Core Skills Income Threshold of AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Applicants must generally be under 45 and have at least 3 years of relevant work experience and a positive skills assessment, unless exempt. A 482 employer may later sponsor you through this route. ### What else does a 482 cost, and how long does it take? The visa applicant charge for either 482 stream is AUD 4,015 for the main applicant, AUD 4,015 for each family member aged 18 or over and AUD 1,005 for each under 18. The employer separately pays a nomination fee and the Skilling Australians Fund levy; Home Affairs renders those amounts by script and our record does not hold them, so ask your employer for the figures. Home Affairs' global processing-time guide (all nationalities, not India-specific) showed these times on 15 October 2026: - Employer sponsorship approval: 50% in 11 days, 90% in 57 days. - Employer nomination: 50% in 64 days, 90% in 9 months. - Core Skills stream visa: 50% in 4 months, 90% in 9 months. - Specialist Skills stream visa: 50% in 37 days, 90% in 78 days. Indian citizens were the largest citizenship group among recent grants. Home Affairs' temporary resident (skilled) report shows 6,220 primary subclass 482 visas granted to Indian citizens from 1 July to 31 December 2025, 18.1% of all primary grants. That is a count of grants, not a refusal or approval rate. ### Before you accept an Australian job offer - Check the nomination lodgement date. A contract signed in June 2026 but nominated after 1 July 2026 must meet AUD 79,423, not AUD 76,515. - Compare the offer with the market rate for the role, not only the threshold. Ask the employer how it set the market salary. - Confirm whether your occupation needs a mandatory skills assessment (for example Trades Recognition Australia or VETASSESS) and start it early: it must be started before you apply and within the previous 3 years. - Book an English test taken on or after 13 September 2025, within 3 years before applying. - Budget for adequate health insurance for yourself and any family members, which the visa requires. If you do not yet have a qualifying offer, India-specific routes exist without a salary floor, such as the MATES (subclass 403) ballot for recent graduates of Top 100 NIRF institutions in fields including engineering and ICT, with an AUD 470 visa charge. Graduates of Australian degrees use the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), AUD 5,750. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Do the Australian salary thresholds change every year? Home Affairs indexed both thresholds on 1 July 2026: the Core Skills Income Threshold rose from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,423 and the Specialist threshold from AUD 141,210 to AUD 146,576. The new figures apply to nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. #### Can my Australian employer pay me less than AUD 79,423 if the market rate is lower? Not for a Core Skills nomination lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. The salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold and also match the annual market salary rate. #### Is there an age limit for the Skills in Demand visa? No. Home Affairs lists no age requirement for either the Core Skills or the Specialist Skills stream. The permanent ENS subclass 186 Direct Entry stream does require you to be under 45 when you apply, unless exempt. #### Does the Specialist Skills stream require my occupation to be on a list? It requires an occupation in ANZSCO Major Group 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 and a salary of at least AUD 146,576. Trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers are excluded. ## FAQ ### Do the Australian salary thresholds change every year? Home Affairs indexed both thresholds on 1 July 2026: the Core Skills Income Threshold rose from AUD 76,515 to AUD 79,423 and the Specialist threshold from AUD 141,210 to AUD 146,576. The new figures apply to nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. ### Can my Australian employer pay me less than AUD 79,423 if the market rate is lower? Not for a Core Skills nomination lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. The salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold and also match the annual market salary rate. ### Is there an age limit for the Skills in Demand visa? No. Home Affairs lists no age requirement for either the Core Skills or the Specialist Skills stream. The permanent ENS subclass 186 Direct Entry stream does require you to be under 45 when you apply, unless exempt. ### Does the Specialist Skills stream require my occupation to be on a list? It requires an occupation in ANZSCO Major Group 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 and a salary of at least AUD 146,576. Trades workers, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers are excluded. ## Sources 1. [Department of Home Affairs - Salary requirements (CSIT, SSIT, TSMIT)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/nominating-a-position/salary-requirements) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 2. [Department of Home Affairs - Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Core Skills stream](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skills-in-demand-visa-subclass-482/core-skills-stream) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 3. [Department of Home Affairs - Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) Specialist Skills stream](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skills-in-demand-visa-subclass-482/specialist-skills-stream) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 4. [Department of Home Affairs - Temporary resident (skilled) report, 31 December 2025](https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/temp-res-skilled-report-31-dec-2025.pdf) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia