2026 UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligible Occupations & SOC Codes List
Explore the complete list of eligible occupations, SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) codes, standard going rates, and lower going rates for the UK Skilled Worker visa. Check if your job title qualifies for UK visa sponsorship and meets the Home Office salary thresholds.
Found your SOC code? Check if you have enough points with our Visa Points Calculator, or search active employers in your industry in our Sponsor List.
| Code | Job Type | Related Job Titles | Eligible | Standard Going Rate | Lower Going Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3232 | Early education and childcare practitioners | Early education and childcare practitioners | Yes | £33,400 (£17.13 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3240 | Veterinary nurses | Veterinary nurses | Yes | £33,400 (£17.13 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3312 | Police officers (sergeant and below) | Police constable Police sergeant Police officers (sergeant and below) not elsewhere classified | Yes | £46,900 (£24.05 per hour) | £36,700 (£18.82 per hour) |
| 3313 | Fire service officers (watch manager and below) | Firefighters Fire service crew managers Watch managers Fire service officers (watch manager and below) not elsewhere classified | Yes | £42,100 (£21.59 per hour) | £37,600 (£19.28 per hour) |
| 3314 | Prison service officers (below principal officer) | Operational support grades Prison officers Prison service officers (below principal officer) not elsewhere classified | Yes | £38,800 (£19.90 per hour) | £31,600 (£16.21 per hour) |
| 3319 | Protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified | Coastguard Customs and border control officers Fraud investigators (excludes benefit fraud) Immigration officers Private investigators Security consultants and managers (excludes cyber security) Protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified | Yes | £41,100 (£21.08 per hour) | £33,200 (£17.03 per hour) |
| 3411 | Artists | Art technicians (excludes education) Drawing and painting artists Hand drawn animators Illustrators (excludes medical and scientific) Medical and scientific illustrators Picture restorers Sculptors Tattoo and henna artists Artists not elsewhere classified | Yes | £38,200 (£19.59 per hour) | £26,600 (£13.64 per hour) |
| 3412 | Authors, writers and translators | Authors Bloggers Copywriters Literary editors Poets Script writers Technical writers (excludes computing) Translators and interpreters Authors, writers and translators not elsewhere classified | Yes | £36,100 (£18.51 per hour) | £29,800 (£15.28 per hour) |
| 3413 | Actors, entertainers and presenters | Actors Broadcasters, podcasters and presenters Children’s entertainers Comedians Disc jockeys Magicians Models Singers Social media influencers Actors, entertainers and presenters not elsewhere classified | Yes | £33,400 (£17.13 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3414 | Dancers and choreographers | Choreographers Dance teachers (excludes educational establishments) Dancers | Yes | £33,400 (£17.13 per hour) | £28,500 (£14.62 per hour) |
| 3415 | Musicians | Composers and musical arrangers Music conductors Instrumentalists Musicians not elsewhere classified | Yes | £37,500 (£19.23 per hour) | £30,100 (£15.44 per hour) |
| 3416 | Arts officers, producers and directors | Art consultants Broadcasting and entertainment directors Broadcasting and entertainment editors Broadcasting and entertainment producers Studio and stage managers Arts officers, producers and directors not elsewhere classified | Yes | £38,100 (£19.54 per hour) | £28,800 (£14.77 per hour) |
| 3417 | Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators | Camera operators and videographers Lighting designers Photographers Sound designers Sound engineers Theatre technicians (excludes hospitals) Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators not elsewhere classified | Yes | £33,400 (£17.13 per hour) | £25,400 (£13.03 per hour) |
| 3421 | Interior designers | Interior designers | Yes | £35,200 (£18.05 per hour) | £29,600 (£15.18 per hour) |
| 3422 | Clothing, fashion and accessories designers | Clothing and fashion consultants Clothing and fashion designers Footwear designers Jewellery designers Textile designers Clothing, fashion and accessories designers not elsewhere classified | Yes | £36,500 (£18.72 per hour) | £29,100 (£14.92 per hour) |
| 3429 | Design occupations not elsewhere classified | Industrial and product designers Packaging designers Performance make-up artists Set designers Visual merchandising managers and designers Design occupations not elsewhere classified | Yes | £39,300 (£20.15 per hour) | £29,800 (£15.28 per hour) |
| 3433 | Fitness and wellbeing instructors | Group fitness instructors and personal trainers Pilates teachers Yoga teachers Fitness and wellbeing instructors not elsewhere classified | Yes | £33,400 (£17.13 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3511 | Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers | Airline pilots Air traffic controllers Flying instructors Helicopter pilots Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers not elsewhere classified | Yes | £80,400 (£41.23 per hour) | £64,100 (£32.87 per hour) |
| 3512 | Ship and hovercraft officers | Ship and hovercraft captains and deck officers (excludes armed forces and fishing) Marine engineers Ship and hovercraft officers not elsewhere classified | Yes | £58,300 (£29.90 per hour) | £39,100 (£20.05 per hour) |
| 3520 | Legal associate professionals | Conveyancing professionals Cost lawyers Barrister’s and judge’s clerks Litigation officers Probate managers Will writers Legal associate professionals not elsewhere classified | Yes | £33,400 (£17.13 per hour) | £26,400 (£13.54 per hour) |
| 3531 | Brokers | Commodity brokers and traders Insurance and mortgage brokers Shipbrokers Stockbrokers Brokers not elsewhere classified | Yes | £52,400 (£26.87 per hour) | £40,000 (£20.51 per hour) |
| 3532 | Insurance underwriters | Insurance underwriters | Yes | £36,500 (£18.72 per hour) | £29,800 (£15.28 per hour) |
| 3533 | Financial and accounting technicians | Accounting technicians Financial control technicians Financial and accounting technicians not elsewhere classified | Yes | £48,700 (£24.97 per hour) | £32,900 (£16.87 per hour) |
| 3534 | Financial accounts managers | Claims managers Credit managers Investment managers Relationship managers Financial accounts managers not elsewhere classified | Yes | £44,700 (£22.92 per hour) | £34,800 (£17.85 per hour) |
| 3541 | Estimators, valuers and assessors | Energy advisers and assessors Estimators Loss adjusters Valuers Vehicle damage assessors Estimators, valuers and assessors not elsewhere classified | Yes | £35,300 (£18.10 per hour) | £28,600 (£14.67 per hour) |
What Is the Going Rate for a Skilled Worker Visa?
Every eligible occupation has a going rate: the minimum salary the Home Office accepts for that job. Your salary must be at least the going rate for your SOC code or the general threshold of £41,700 a year, whichever is higher.
- Programmers and software development professionals (2134): going rate £54,700, so the minimum salary is £54,700 (the going rate is higher).
- Data analysts (3544): going rate £34,900, so the minimum salary is £41,700 (the general threshold is higher).
The lower going rate column applies to applicants who qualify for a reduced rate, such as new entrants (for example, people under 26 or switching from a Student or Graduate visa). The rules on who qualifies are detailed, so check the Home Office salary rules on GOV.UK before relying on it.
To see whether a job offer meets the salary rule and the other requirements, use the Skilled Worker visa points calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a SOC code?
A SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is a 4-digit number used by the UK government to classify jobs and professions. It's essential for skilled worker visa applications and for determining salary thresholds and eligibility.
What is the SOC code for the Skilled Worker visa?
Each eligible occupation for the Skilled Worker visa is assigned a specific SOC code by the UK Home Office. Use the table above to find your SOC code and then check our tier 2 sponsor list to find licensed employers.
How do I find my SOC code in the UK?
To find your SOC code, search your job title in the table above or refer to the UK Home Office's official occupation list. Once you've found your code, use our visa points calculator to check your eligibility.
What is an occupation code or job code?
An occupation code or job code is another name for a SOC code. They all refer to the same system used by the UK government to categorize job roles for employment and immigration purposes. After identifying your code, you can also estimate your visa costs.