Head to head · Checked 30 October 2026
482 Core Skills stream vs 482 Specialist Skills stream
The streams are decided by salary and occupation. The Core Skills stream is for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate, with labour market testing unless exempt, and it is where most nominations sit. The Specialist Skills stream is for a position paid at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold in any occupation other than trades, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers, with no occupation list and priority processing, and it is the route for the senior or highly paid role whose occupation is unlisted or whose employer wants speed. A role paid below the specialist threshold cannot use it however senior; a role paid above it in a listed occupation can use either.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed 30 October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Occupation
- On the Core Skills Occupation List · Any occupation except trades, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers; no list
- Salary
- At or above the CSIT, $79,423 for 2026–27, and the market rate · At or above the SSIT, $146,576 for 2026–27, and the market rate
- Labour market testing
- Required unless exempt · Required unless exempt
- Processing
- Standard · Priority
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About the CPD →Side by side
| 482 Core Skills stream | 482 Specialist Skills stream | |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation | On the Core Skills Occupation List | Any occupation except trades, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers; no list |
| Salary | At or above the CSIT, $79,423 for 2026–27, and the market rate | At or above the SSIT, $146,576 for 2026–27, and the market rate |
| Labour market testing | Required unless exempt | Required unless exempt |
| Processing | Standard | Priority |
| Charge | $4,015 primary applicant | $4,015 primary applicant |
| Path to PR | 186 after 2 years | 186 after 2 years |
| Watch out | The list changes; an occupation can leave it | A salary that falls below the threshold at a new nomination moves the role back to Core Skills |
Charges are the current government application charges (from 1 July 2026, main applicant) — see the fee calculator for your family's total. Checked 30 October 2026.
The honest verdict
The streams are decided by salary and occupation. The Core Skills stream is for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate, with labour market testing unless exempt, and it is where most nominations sit. The Specialist Skills stream is for a position paid at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold in any occupation other than trades, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers, with no occupation list and priority processing, and it is the route for the senior or highly paid role whose occupation is unlisted or whose employer wants speed. A role paid below the specialist threshold cannot use it however senior; a role paid above it in a listed occupation can use either.
Which side of that line you fall on depends on facts a table cannot hold — your age, score, occupation's lists, and what evidence you can actually assemble. That is consultation territory, not guesswork territory.
More head-to-heads: 482 vs 494 · 190 vs 491 · 189 vs 190 · 482 vs 186
General information only, not migration advice. Settings shown are the general rules; exemptions and stream variations exist. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
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Questions we get asked first
482 Core Skills stream or 482 Specialist Skills stream — which is better?
The streams are decided by salary and occupation. The Core Skills stream is for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold and the market rate, with labour market testing unless exempt, and it is where most nominations sit. The Specialist Skills stream is for a position paid at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold in any occupation other than trades, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers, with no occupation list and priority processing, and it is the route for the senior or highly paid role whose occupation is unlisted or whose employer wants speed. A role paid below the specialist threshold cannot use it however senior; a role paid above it in a listed occupation can use either.
What is the main difference between the 482 Core Skills stream and the 482 Specialist Skills stream?
Occupation: 482 Core Skills stream — On the Core Skills Occupation List; 482 Specialist Skills stream — Any occupation except trades, machinery operators and drivers, and labourers; no list. Salary: 482 Core Skills stream — At or above the CSIT, $79,423 for 2026–27, and the market rate; 482 Specialist Skills stream — At or above the SSIT, $146,576 for 2026–27, and the market rate. Labour market testing: 482 Core Skills stream — Required unless exempt; 482 Specialist Skills stream — Required unless exempt.
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