Australia 482 salary threshold figures changed on 1 July 2026, and the jump is real. The Core Skills Income Threshold now sits at AUD $79,499. The Specialist Skills stream climbs to AUD $146,717. If you are lining up a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) or Employer Nomination (subclass 186) move to Australia, the pay your sponsor must guarantee just moved, and it applies to every application lodged on or after that date.
By the Travel Explore editorial desk. Last updated 4 July 2026.
On this page
- The new Australia 482 salary threshold, in numbers
- Who gets caught by the higher floor
- What to do before you lodge
- Questions people keep asking
The new Australia 482 salary threshold, in numbers
Two figures matter. The Core Skills Income Threshold, which most sponsored workers are measured against, rose to AUD $79,499. The Specialist Skills Income Threshold, used for higher-paid senior roles, moved to AUD $146,717. Both apply to subclass 482 and the permanent subclass 186 when the application is lodged on or after 1 July 2026. The Department of Home Affairs indexes these floors “in line with average weekly ordinary time earnings,” so the rise tracks wage growth rather than a sudden crackdown. Your guaranteed annual earnings, not counting overtime, must meet or beat the relevant floor. They must also match the market salary rate for the role.
Who gets caught by the higher floor
The workers most exposed are those whose offers were pitched just above last year’s minimum. A few thousand dollars of headroom vanished overnight. Take Aarav, an Indian software engineer holding an offer from a Melbourne firm set at the old core figure. His paperwork was ready. The salary line no longer cleared the bar, so his employer had to revise the contract before lodging. Graduates, regional hires, and anyone on a tight budget offer feel this first. Specialist roles shift less in percentage terms, yet the dollar gap is larger. The rule is blunt. Lodge on or after 1 July with a salary below the new floor, and the case fails at the first check.
Not sure your offer clears the new bar? Compare pathways and get organised at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.
What to do before you lodge
Ask your sponsor to confirm the salary in writing against the current floor, not last year’s. Check the market salary rate for your occupation, because clearing the threshold alone is not enough. If your offer sits near the line, push the base up rather than leaning on allowances, since guaranteed earnings are what count. Watch the timing too. A case prepared before the change but lodged after it is judged on the new figures. Employers already juggling sponsor duties should read our guide on 482 sponsor compliance and data matching before they submit.
The short version
- Core Skills floor is now AUD $79,499; Specialist is AUD $146,717.
- The figures bite for any 482 or 186 lodged on or after 1 July 2026.
- Meeting the threshold and the market salary rate are both required.
- Fix a borderline salary before lodging, never after.
Questions people keep asking
Does the new Australia 482 salary threshold apply to applications already in progress?
It applies based on lodgement date. Any subclass 482 or 186 lodged on or after 1 July 2026 is assessed against the new floors, even if drafting started earlier.
Is meeting the AUD $79,499 core floor enough on its own?
No. You must meet the income threshold and the annual market salary rate for the occupation. Both tests apply.
Do allowances count toward the threshold?
Guaranteed annual earnings count. Overtime and non-guaranteed allowances are generally excluded, so the base salary usually needs to clear the floor.
Which stream has the higher figure?
The Specialist Skills stream sits at AUD $146,717, well above the Core Skills floor of AUD $79,499 used for most sponsored roles.
Related reads
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- LinkedIn: Australia lifted its 482 pay floor to AUD $79,499 on 1 July. If your offer was borderline, read this before lodging.
- Twitter: New Australia 482 salary floor is live: AUD $79,499 core, AUD $146,717 specialist. Applies to anything lodged from 1 July 2026.
- Facebook: Planning an Australia work-visa move? The salary your employer must pay just went up. Here is what changed.
Line up your Australian move the smart way
Salary floors move every July, and a borderline offer is the easiest way to lose months. Check your numbers, fix the contract early, and keep your evidence tidy. Start with the tools and guides at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs, Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) [T0 official]: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skills-in-demand-visa-subclass-482
- Erickson Immigration Group, Australia indexed salary threshold increases effective July 2026 [T1 specialist]: https://eiglaw.com/australia-announces-indexed-increases-to-salary-thresholds-for-subclass-482-and-186-visas-effective-july-2026/
