SOC Code With Salary: UK Skilled Worker Rates List 2026

A UK SOC code identifies the type of work a person will perform. For most new Skilled Worker visa applications, the salary must be at least £41,700 per year or the full going rate for the relevant SOC 2020 occupation code, whichever is higher.

Lower thresholds may apply to qualifying new entrants, people with relevant PhDs, certain Immigration Salary List roles, some health and education jobs, and workers covered by transitional arrangements. A lower percentage of the going rate does not remove the applicable annual salary floor.

Applicants should use the official Skilled Worker eligible occupation list and the Home Office SOC code going-rate tables rather than relying on an old spreadsheet or an employer’s job title alone.

SOC Code and Salary Rules at a Glance

Applicant or job category	General annual salary requirement	Required occupation rate
Standard Skilled Worker applicant	£41,700	100% of the full going rate
Relevant non-STEM PhD	£37,500	90% of the full going rate
Relevant STEM PhD	£33,400	80% of the full going rate
Immigration Salary List role	£33,400	100% of the full going rate
Qualifying new entrant	£33,400	70% of the full going rate
Qualifying postdoctoral role	£33,400	70% of the full going rate
Certain applicants sponsored before 4 April 2024	£31,300	Lower going rate
Some health and education occupations	Usually at least £25,000	Relevant national pay scale or listed going rate

The applicant normally has to satisfy both figures in the relevant row. For example, a qualifying new entrant whose discounted going rate is £38,300 cannot rely on the £33,400 floor alone; the salary must be at least £38,300.

What Is a SOC Code?

What Is a SOC Code

SOC stands for Standard Occupational Classification. It is the system used to classify jobs according to the type of work performed and the skills required.

The UK immigration system currently uses four-digit SOC 2020 occupation codes. These replaced the previous SOC 2010 codes for Skilled Worker applications from 4 April 2024. A code used for an older visa application may therefore no longer be the correct code for a new Certificate of Sponsorship.

A SOC code is not the same as:

a company’s SIC code;
a payroll number;
a National Insurance category;
a professional registration number; or
an employee’s internal job reference.

A SIC code describes the activities of a business, while a SOC code describes the work carried out by an individual employee.

Foreign founders should also distinguish immigration permission from company registration. Registering or owning a company does not itself provide permission to work in the UK, as explained under starting a business in the UK as a foreigner.

UK SOC Codes With Salary Examples for 2026

The following are examples of full Skilled Worker going rates under the current SOC 2020 tables. They are based on a 37.5-hour working week.

The “usual standard-route minimum” column shows the higher of the £41,700 general threshold and the full going rate.

SOC code	Occupation	Full going rate	Usual standard-route minimum
1111	Chief executives and senior officials	£88,100	£88,100
1131	Financial managers and directors	£75,100	£75,100
2111	Chemical scientists	£39,900	£41,700
2121	Civil engineers	£50,400	£50,400
2122	Mechanical engineers	£46,800	£46,800
2123	Electrical engineers	£58,700	£58,700
2134	Programmers and software development professionals	£54,700	£54,700
2135	Cyber security professionals	£48,500	£48,500
2136	IT quality and testing professionals	£41,200	£41,700
2141	Web design professionals	£43,800	£43,800
2142	Graphic and multimedia designers	£33,400	£41,700
2240	Veterinarians	£49,500	£49,500
2311	Higher education teaching professionals	£52,600	£52,600
2412	Solicitors and lawyers	£51,600	£51,600
2421	Chartered and certified accountants	£49,200	£49,200
2431	Management consultants and business analysts	£50,200	£50,200
2432	Marketing and commercial managers	£50,100	£50,100

These figures are immigration going rates rather than estimates of what every UK employer pays. Actual market salaries can be higher or lower, but a sponsored salary must meet the applicable immigration requirement.

Why Can the Minimum Salary Be Higher Than the SOC Going Rate?

The standard salary test has two parts:

The salary must be at least the general threshold, normally £41,700.
The salary must be at least the going rate for the occupation code.

The higher figure becomes the effective minimum.

Example: Graphic Designer

SOC code 2142 has a full going rate of £33,400 for a 37.5-hour week.

A standard Skilled Worker applicant would not qualify on £33,400 because the general threshold is higher. The normal minimum would be £41,700.

Example: Software Developer

SOC code 2134 has a full going rate of £54,700.

A standard applicant would need at least £54,700, because the occupation-specific rate is higher than £41,700.

A qualifying new entrant would normally need at least 70% of the going rate. The official table gives a 70% rate of £38,300, which is higher than the £33,400 new-entrant salary floor.

How Are SOC Going Rates Calculated for Different Hours?

How Are SOC Going Rates Calculated for Different Hours

Most annual going rates in the Skilled Occupations tables are based on a 37.5-hour week. The going rate must be adjusted when the sponsored working week is longer or shorter.

The calculation is:

Published going rate × contracted weekly hours ÷ 37.5

Worked Example: Civil Engineer Working 40 Hours

The full going rate for SOC code 2121 is £50,400.

The adjusted rate is:

£50,400 × 40 ÷ 37.5 = £53,760

A salary of £52,000 would exceed the £41,700 general threshold but would still fall below the adjusted going rate. It would therefore normally fail the salary requirement.

People comparing an annual offer with an hourly figure may find it helpful to use the method for calculating an hourly rate from an annual salary. However, ordinary salary conversion tools do not determine visa eligibility because immigration calculations contain additional rules.

Are Part-Time Skilled Worker Jobs Allowed?

A Skilled Worker role can be part-time, but the fixed annual salary threshold is not simply reduced in proportion to the employee’s hours.

The occupation going rate is adjusted to the contracted weekly hours, while the relevant general annual salary threshold must still be met. This can make lower-hour roles difficult to sponsor, even where the hourly rate is relatively high.

For example, reducing a job from 37.5 to 30 hours may lower the pro-rated occupation going rate, but a standard applicant would ordinarily still need a salary of at least £41,700.

Does the Home Office Count Every Hour Worked?

When assessing the general annual salary threshold, the Home Office normally counts salary for no more than the first 48 hours per week.

For example, someone working 60 hours each week at £15 per hour would not be treated as earning £46,800 for the salary-threshold test. Only the first 48 hours would normally count, producing an assessed salary of £37,440.

However, all weekly hours are considered when checking whether the salary meets the pro-rated occupation going rate. An employer cannot make a low hourly salary compliant merely by requiring excessive hours.

Which Payments Count Towards the Skilled Worker Salary?

The salary calculation normally includes:

guaranteed basic gross pay before Income Tax;
employee National Insurance contributions included within gross pay;
employee pension contributions included within gross pay; and
other guaranteed payments treated in the same way as basic salary for tax, pension and National Insurance purposes.

The rules normally exclude:

overtime pay;
shift premiums;
performance bonuses;
commission that is not part of guaranteed basic pay;
accommodation or cost-of-living allowances;
employer pension contributions;
employer National Insurance contributions;
company cars, health insurance or other benefits in kind;
one-off joining payments;
payments towards visa or Immigration Health Surcharge costs; and
travel, equipment and other business-expense reimbursements.

A job offer should therefore be assessed using eligible guaranteed salary rather than the maximum amount an employee might receive after bonuses and overtime.

When Can a Skilled Worker Be Paid Less Than £41,700?

When Can a Skilled Worker Be Paid Less Than £41,700

A lower salary may be accepted where the applicant meets a specific tradeable-points option.

Relevant Non-STEM PhD

The salary must normally be at least:

£37,500; and
90% of the full going rate.

The occupation must be eligible for PhD points, and the sponsor must explain how the doctorate is relevant to the role.

Relevant STEM PhD

The salary must normally be at least:

£33,400; and
80% of the full going rate.

STEM means science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

New Entrant

A qualifying new entrant may be paid at least:

£33,400; and
70% of the full going rate.

A person may qualify because they are under 26, recently held qualifying Student or Graduate permission, or are working towards professional registration or chartered status. The combined time under relevant new-entrant conditions is generally limited to four years.

Immigration Salary List Job

An Immigration Salary List applicant will normally need at least:

£33,400; and
the full going rate for the occupation.

Being on the list does not allow the employer to pay below the full occupation going rate. The role must also be listed for the part of the UK where the work will take place. Applicants should check the current Immigration Salary List occupations and rates.

What Is the Temporary Shortage List?

The Temporary Shortage List allows certain medium-skilled occupations to qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship even though they do not meet the normal higher-skilled requirement.

Examples include:

SOC code	Temporary Shortage List occupation	Published full going rate
3113	Engineering technicians	£42,500
3114	Building and civil engineering technicians	£33,400
3115	Quality assurance technicians	£33,400
3116	Planning, process and production technicians	£34,800
3552	Business sales executives	£36,700
3554	Advertising and marketing associate professionals	£33,400
3571	Human resources and industrial relations officers	£33,400
5231	Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians	£35,500

A Temporary Shortage List entry makes a qualifying medium-skilled job eligible for sponsorship. It does not automatically mean that £33,400 is sufficient. The applicant must still meet an available salary option, including its annual threshold and relevant percentage of the going rate.

The current list should always be checked through the Temporary Shortage List salary table.

Are All Medium-Skilled SOC Codes Eligible?

No. Under the current system, a medium-skilled code is normally eligible only where the job:

appears on the Immigration Salary List;
appears on the Temporary Shortage List;
qualifies under a specific prison-officer provision; or
is covered by transitional arrangements for someone continuously sponsored since before 22 July 2025.

Jobs classified as “ineligible” cannot qualify merely because an employer offers a high salary.

Do Care Worker SOC Codes Have Special Restrictions?

Yes. SOC code 6135 for care workers and home carers and code 6136 for senior care workers are subject to additional restrictions.

Current applications under these codes must normally be applications for permission to stay from within the UK. The applicant must either have been legally working for the sponsor in an eligible care role for at least three months before the Certificate of Sponsorship was issued, with the application made before 22 July 2028, or already hold Skilled Worker permission in an eligible care occupation.

For jobs based in England, the sponsoring organisation generally must also be registered with the Care Quality Commission and carrying on a regulated activity. The appearance of codes 6135 or 6136 on a salary list should not be interpreted as unrestricted overseas recruitment.

How Should an Employer Select the Correct SOC Code?

The employer should begin with the employee’s actual duties, responsibilities, skill level and working activities.

The code should not be selected merely because:

its going rate is lower;
it appears on a shortage list;
it qualifies for a PhD salary discount;
it is more likely to be eligible; or
its example job title resembles the employer’s preferred title.

The Home Office can question a code where another occupation is more appropriate, particularly where the selected code creates a lower salary requirement or access to a tradeable-points option. Decision-makers may consider the organisation’s genuine need for the role, the employee’s qualifications and the sponsor’s compliance history.

How Can Someone Find Their SOC Code?

1. Review the Actual Job Duties

The employee and employer should prepare a clear description of the day-to-day work. Generic titles such as “consultant”, “manager”, “engineer” or “analyst” can fit several different codes.

2. Search the CASCOT Tool

The Office for National Statistics links to the CASCOT occupation coding tool, which can help identify possible SOC 2020 classifications.

CASCOT is a starting point rather than a final immigration decision. The employer remains responsible for choosing an appropriate code.

3. Check Immigration Eligibility

The possible code should then be searched in the GOV.UK eligible occupations table. It will be described as:

Higher Skilled;
Medium Skilled; or
Ineligible.

4. Check the Correct Salary Table

The employer should confirm:

the full going rate;
whether PhD points are allowed;
the 90%, 80% or 70% rate where relevant;
whether a national pay scale applies;
whether the code is on a shortage list; and
whether transitional rules apply.

5. Adjust the Going Rate for Contracted Hours

The published annual rate should be adjusted to the weekly hours shown on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

6. Check Which Parts of Pay Are Eligible

Bonuses, overtime, allowances and benefits should not be included unless the immigration rules expressly permit them.

What Are the Salary Rules for Health and Education Jobs?

Some healthcare and education occupations use national pay scales rather than the ordinary median salary table.

Relevant Health and Care Worker occupations may normally require at least £31,300 or the lower going rate, whichever is higher. Some listed health and education roles can qualify under a separate option requiring at least £25,000 and the applicable national pay-scale rate.

Nursing, medical and teaching codes may differ by profession, seniority and UK nation. NHS staff comparing published pay bands can also review the latest NHS pay rates and staff updates, but visa eligibility must be checked against the Home Office’s current national-pay-scale tables.

What About Workers Sponsored Before 4 April 2024?

Lower transitional salary requirements may apply where a person:

received the Certificate of Sponsorship for their first Tier 2 General or Skilled Worker visa before 4 April 2024; and
has continuously held Skilled Worker permission since then.

Such applicants may normally qualify for an extension or job update at the higher of:

£31,300; or
the lower going rate for their occupation.

Further reductions may apply to qualifying PhD holders and new entrants, subject to a minimum annual salary of £25,000 or £28,200 in some cases. These transitional arrangements are scheduled to apply only to qualifying applications made before 4 April 2030.

Can a Skilled Worker Take a Second Job With a Different SOC Code?

Can a Skilled Worker Take a Second Job With a Different SOC Code

A Skilled Worker’s primary employment must remain the sponsored role stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Additional work may be permitted in limited circumstances, but the occupation, hours and timing must comply with the person’s visa conditions. Anyone considering freelance work, self-employment or a second employer should check the rules for side hustles UK visa holders may legally undertake before beginning paid work.

The salary earned from separate supplementary employment does not normally make up a shortfall in the salary offered for the sponsored role.

Common SOC Code and Salary Mistakes

Using a Job Title Instead of the Duties

Two employees with the title “project manager” may require different codes if one manages construction work and the other manages an IT programme.

Checking Only the £41,700 Threshold

A salary above £41,700 can still fail where the occupation’s going rate is higher.

Checking Only the Going Rate

A job with a going rate below £41,700 does not normally allow a standard applicant to be paid below the general threshold.

Using an Old SOC 2010 Code

Occupation codes changed in April 2024. Old codes should not automatically be copied into a new Certificate of Sponsorship.

Assuming Every Shortage Role Has a Salary Discount

The Temporary Shortage List can provide occupation eligibility without automatically reducing the general salary threshold.

Including Bonuses and Overtime

Most additional, variable or non-basic payments do not count towards the required salary.

Ignoring Weekly Hours

A salary that meets the published 37.5-hour going rate may be insufficient where the employee is contracted to work more hours.

Final Takeaway

A SOC code with salary information must be checked through several connected rules rather than one universal salary list.

For most standard Skilled Worker applicants, the required salary is the higher of:

£41,700 per year; or
the full going rate for the correct SOC 2020 occupation code.

Lower thresholds apply only where the applicant and job meet a defined immigration category. Employers should match the code to the genuine duties, adjust the going rate for contracted hours, count only eligible guaranteed pay and verify the rules in force when the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned.

Because an incorrect code or salary can affect sponsorship compliance and visa eligibility, complex cases should be reviewed by a regulated immigration adviser or appropriately qualified solicitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Minimum Salary for a Skilled Worker Visa in 2026?

The usual minimum is £41,700 per year or the full going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds may apply under specified tradeable-points or transitional options.

Where Can Someone Find a UK SOC Code With Salary?

The job can be searched through the ONS-linked CASCOT tool. The possible code should then be checked in the Home Office’s Skilled Worker eligible-occupation and going-rate tables.

Is £41,700 enough for every Skilled Worker job?

No. A role with a going rate above £41,700 must normally be paid at least the higher occupation-specific rate.

Is the SOC Salary an Average UK Salary?

No. It is an immigration going rate used to assess sponsored employment. It is not a guarantee of what every employer pays or what every employee will earn.

Can a Skilled Worker Salary Include Overtime?

Overtime and shift pay are normally excluded, even where the employer expects the employee to work additional hours. Guaranteed basic gross pay is the main amount considered.

Is a Bonus Included in the Visa Salary?

Performance bonuses and other additional payments are generally excluded from the salary calculation. A job should not rely on a potential bonus to reach its required threshold.

Can the Going Rate Be Reduced for a Part-time Job?

The occupation going rate is pro-rated according to weekly hours. The applicable fixed annual salary threshold is not normally reduced merely because the role is part-time.

What is the SOC Code for a Software Developer?

Programmers and software development professionals are normally classified under SOC code 2134. The actual duties must support that classification. Its current full going rate is £54,700 for a 37.5-hour week.

What is the SOC Code for a Web Designer?

Web design professionals, including many UI, UX and web-design roles, are listed under SOC code 2141. The current full going rate is £43,800 for a 37.5-hour week.

What is the SOC Code for an Accountant?

Qualified chartered and certified accountants are generally listed under SOC code 2421. Accounting clerks, bookkeepers, finance officers and payroll roles may fall under different codes.

Does Having an Eligible SOC Code Guarantee a Visa?

No. The applicant must also meet sponsorship, salary, English-language, validity and other applicable requirements. The employer must be an approved sponsor and issue a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.

Can an Employer Select a Lower-paid SOC Code?

The employer must select the code that most accurately reflects the genuine role. Deliberately choosing a less appropriate code to obtain a lower going rate or immigration advantage can lead to refusal and sponsor-compliance action.

Do SOC Codes Apply to UK Citizens?

SOC codes classify occupations generally, but the Skilled Worker salary requirements apply specifically to sponsored immigration cases. Employers may use occupational classifications for statistics or workforce planning without sponsoring the employee.

How Often Do SOC Salary Rates Change?

The Home Office can update salary thresholds, occupation eligibility and going rates through changes to the Immigration Rules. Figures should therefore be checked when the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned and again before an immigration application is submitted.

About Sophia Bennett

An experienced editor with a passion for transforming complex subjects into clear, engaging, and accessible content. Focused on maintaining high editorial standards while ensuring readers receive practical, trustworthy, and timely information.

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