Subclass 482 · Salary thresholds · 2026–27
482 visa salary threshold 2026–27
For nomination applications lodged 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, the Core Skills Income Threshold is A$79,423 and the Specialist Skills Income Threshold is A$146,576 (Department of Home Affairs, published 1 July 2026). The salary must also meet the annual market salary rate. History, what counts, and the traps — by Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed August 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - CSIT 2026–27 (Core Skills, 482 & 186)
- A$79,423
- SSIT 2026–27 (Specialist Skills)
- A$146,576
- TSMIT 2026–27 (494 / 187)
- A$79,423
- Applies from
- 1 July 2026
- Home Affairs stamp
- 1 July 2026
Current thresholds (2026–27)
Nomination applications lodged on or between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027 must meet:
| Threshold | Applies to | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) | 482 Core Skills stream · 186 nominations lodged on/after 7 Dec 2024 | A$79,423 |
| Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) | 482 Specialist Skills stream | A$146,576 |
| Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) | 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional · 187 RSMS | A$79,423 |
| Labour Agreement stream | 482 / 494 / 186 under a labour agreement or DAMA | Per the agreement — concessions possible |
Source: Home Affairs — salary requirements to nominate a worker, page stamped 1 July 2026; checked 17 August 2026. Figures are guaranteed annual earnings, exclusive of superannuation and non-monetary benefits.
History since 2013
The threshold was frozen at A$53,900 for a decade, then indexed annually from 2023. The Skills in Demand visa (7 December 2024) split it into CSIT and SSIT for the 482 and 186; the TSMIT continues for the 494 and 187.
| Nomination lodged | CSIT | SSIT | TSMIT | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2027 | A$79,423 | A$146,576 | A$79,423 | Current |
| 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2026 | A$76,515 | A$141,210 | A$76,515 | |
| 7 Dec 2024 – 30 Jun 2025 | A$73,150 | A$135,000 | A$73,150 | SID visa introduced 7 Dec 2024; CSIT/SSIT replace TSMIT for the 482 and 186 |
| 1 Jul 2023 – 30 Jun 2024 | — | — | A$70,000 | TSMIT applied to the 482 (TSS) and 186 |
| 1 Jul 2013 – 30 Jun 2023 | — | — | A$53,900 | TSMIT frozen for ten years |
What counts as salary
- Counts: base salary and other guaranteed cash earnings for the year, for full-time hours.
- Doesn't count: superannuation, accommodation, a vehicle or other non-monetary benefits, non-guaranteed overtime, discretionary bonuses. These must be paid in addition to the threshold.
- Part-time: the threshold is a full-time annual figure; a part-time role is assessed on the equivalent full-time earnings, and the position must still be genuine and full-time where the visa requires it.
AMSR — the second test
Meeting the CSIT or SSIT is necessary, not sufficient. The nominated salary must also be at least the annual market salary rate — what an Australian citizen or permanent resident earns, or would earn, for equivalent full-time work in the same workplace and location. If your Australian staff in the same role earn A$95,000, a nomination at A$79,423 fails the AMSR test even though it clears the threshold. Evidencing the AMSR properly is where most salary refusals actually come from — see the AMSR report.
Which date fixes the figure
The nomination lodgement date. A nomination lodged on 30 June 2026 is assessed against A$76,515; one lodged on 1 July 2026 against A$79,423. Neither the visa lodgement date nor the employment start date moves it. Where a nomination is being prepared in June, that timing decision belongs in the advice.
Salary evidence that survives assessment
CSIT/SSIT compliance, AMSR determination and the contract that reconciles with both — prepared as a complete nomination pack for employers and for fellow agents on a white-label basis.
Keshab Chapagain, MARN 1576536. General information only, not personal migration advice. Thresholds are set by the Department of Home Affairs and index each 1 July — this page states the source and its date so you can verify.
Questions we get asked first
What is the salary threshold for the 482 Skills in Demand visa in 2026?
For nomination applications lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027: Core Skills stream — Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) A$79,423; Specialist Skills stream — Specialist Skills Income Threshold (SSIT) A$146,576. Published by the Department of Home Affairs (1 July 2026). The nominated salary must also be at least the annual market salary rate (AMSR) for the role — meeting the threshold alone is not enough.
What was the 482 threshold before 1 July 2026?
A$76,515 (CSIT) and A$141,210 (SSIT) for lodgements from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026; A$73,150 and A$135,000 from 7 December 2024 to 30 June 2025. Which figure applies is fixed by the nomination lodgement date, not the visa lodgement date or the start date.
Does the CSIT apply to the 186 visa too?
Yes. The CSIT applies to Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) nominations lodged on or after 7 December 2024 — A$79,423 for 2026–27. The 494 and the legacy 187 use the TSMIT, which is also A$79,423 for 2026–27.
Does the threshold include superannuation, allowances or accommodation?
No. The comparison is on guaranteed annual earnings — base salary and guaranteed cash earnings. Superannuation, non-monetary benefits (accommodation, a car), overtime that is not guaranteed and discretionary bonuses do not count and must be provided in addition. Both the AMSR for the occupation and the worker's guaranteed annual earnings must be at least the applicable threshold at lodgement.
When do the thresholds change?
They are indexed on 1 July each year. If a sponsorship or nomination application is lodged on or after 1 July, the new year's threshold applies. Nominations lodged before 1 July are assessed against the earlier figure.
Are there concessions below the threshold?
Only through a labour agreement — including Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) and industry agreements — which can set a lower salary floor for specific occupations and regions. The standard Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams have no discretion below the CSIT/SSIT.
Keep reading