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Skilled Worker Visa UK Jobs: Eligible Occupations
12 min read
Skilled Worker Visa UK Jobs: Eligible Occupations & Salary Rules
By SkilledJobs Editorial · Published 3 August 2026 · Last verified
What is the Skilled Worker Visa?
The Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. This route replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa and remains one of the principal pathways for non-UK nationals to work in Britain.
To qualify, you must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer licensed as a sponsor, and your role must appear on the list of eligible occupations. Your employer will issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) that references your job's Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, salary, and other details the Home Office uses to assess your application.
Your visa can last for up to five years before you need to extend it, and time spent on this route counts toward settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after five continuous years.
Which Jobs Are Eligible?
Applicants must do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations. The Home Office classifies every SOC code as either Higher Skilled, Medium Skilled, or Ineligible.
Higher Skilled Occupations
Higher skilled jobs—typically those at RQF Level 6 or above (equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree)—are eligible for all Skilled Worker applications, whether you are applying for entry clearance, switching from another visa inside the UK, or extending your current permission. Examples include software engineers, secondary school teachers, architects, and registered nurses.
Medium Skilled Occupations
Medium skilled roles, generally at RQF Levels 3–5, face tighter restrictions. The eligible occupations list explains that if your job is medium skilled, you can make an application only if:
your job is on the temporary shortage list and
you are switching to the Skilled Worker route or applying for entry clearance, or
you are extending your permission as a Skilled Worker in the same medium skilled occupation.
In other words, medium skilled roles are not open-access; they require either a shortage designation or continuity of employment.
Last verified against official UK government sources.
Recent Additions to the Eligible List
The eligible occupations list was updated to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules that came into force on 22 July 2025. Recent additions include:
Prison service officers (below principal officer), SOC code 3314
These occupations expand the range of roles—especially in public services and social care—for which UK employers can now recruit internationally.
Understanding SOC Codes and Skill Levels
Every job on your Certificate of Sponsorship must correspond to a four-digit SOC code. The SOC code determines:
Whether the job is eligible at all
Which salary threshold applies
Whether you can switch into the route or must apply from abroad
For example, SOC 2135 (IT business analysts, architects and systems designers) is higher skilled, while SOC 6145 (care workers and home carers) is medium skilled and subject to the restrictions described above.
Salary thresholds are among the most complex aspects of the Skilled Worker route. The amount you must be paid depends on your job's classification, the date your CoS was assigned, and whether your role qualifies for any concessions.
Standard Salary Thresholds
For most roles, you must be paid the higher of:
£41,700 per year (the standard general minimum), or
the going rate for your occupation code
GOV.UK guidance confirms these figures. The going rate is a job-specific threshold set by the Home Office and published in the going rates table. For example, if the going rate for your SOC code is £45,000, you must be paid at least £45,000—even though the general threshold is lower.
Alternative £33,400 Threshold
If you do not meet the usual salary requirements and you do not work in healthcare or education, you might still be eligible if your salary will be at least £33,400 per year. This alternative threshold applies in limited circumstances, such as:
New entrants (under 26, in postdoctoral roles, or certain professional training)
Jobs on the immigration salary list
PhDs relevant to the job (with an additional tradeable points discount)
Immigration Salary List
Certain occupations qualify for a lower threshold. Jobs on the immigration salary list require a minimum of £33,400 per year rather than £41,700. This concession is time-limited: most roles on the list are eligible until 31 December 2026, though care workers under SOC codes 6135 and 6136 remain eligible until 22 July 2028.
Medium Skilled Workers and Prison Officers
For medium skilled workers—such as prison service officers (SOC 3314)—you will be eligible if you are paid at least the higher of either:
£31,300 (the current minimum salary per year for medium skilled roles), or
There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs, where the going rate is based on national pay scales. For example, NHS roles often reference Agenda for Change pay bands, and teachers' salaries align with the national pay framework. The Home Office compares your actual salary against these scales rather than a flat annual figure.
Part-Time and Pro-Rata Calculations
If you work fewer than the standard full-time hours for your occupation, your salary is adjusted pro-rata. For instance, if the full-time going rate is £45,000 for a 37.5-hour week and you work 30 hours, your pro-rated threshold is (30 ÷ 37.5) × £45,000 = £36,000. The going rates guidance explains that you must still meet the pro-rated minimum.
English Language Requirements
Since 8 January 2026, workers making their first application for permission as a Skilled Worker must show English language competence to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This is a step up from the previous B1 threshold and roughly equivalent to an upper-intermediate standard.
You can meet this requirement by:
Passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B2 or higher
Holding a degree taught in English and recognised by UK ENIC
Being a national of a majority English-speaking country
If you are extending your visa and you have already demonstrated English at B1 or higher in a previous Skilled Worker application before 8 January 2026, you do not need to re-prove language ability at B2.
A critical—but sometimes overlooked—rule applies to CoS assignment dates. You will need to get your certificate of sponsorship on or before:
31 December 2026, if you are switching to this visa from another route inside the UK
31 December 2027, if you are extending your existing Skilled Worker visa
These deadlines are set out in the Your Job section of the official guidance. If your employer assigns a CoS after these dates, your application may be refused unless the rules are amended. The deadlines primarily affect medium skilled roles and shortage occupations; higher skilled jobs are generally not time-limited in this way, but always check the latest Immigration Rules or consult your sponsor's compliance officer.
How to Find Eligible Jobs
Check the Occupation Code
Start by identifying the SOC code for the role you are considering. Use the eligible occupations and codes list to confirm the job is classified as higher or medium skilled and is not marked ineligible.
Confirm the Employer Holds a Sponsor Licence
Only employers with a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence can issue Certificates of Sponsorship. The Home Office publishes a register of licensed sponsors, which you can check to verify your prospective employer is authorised.
Review the Going Rate and Salary Offer
Compare your job offer against the published going rates table. Ensure your salary meets or exceeds both the general threshold (usually £41,700) and the occupation-specific going rate. If the job is on the immigration salary list or you qualify as a new entrant, check whether the £33,400 alternative applies.
Consider Shortage and Immigration Salary Lists
If your occupation appears on the temporary shortage list or the immigration salary list, you may benefit from lower salary thresholds or additional flexibility for medium skilled roles. Be aware of the expiry dates: most immigration salary list concessions end on 31 December 2026.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Mismatched SOC codes: Ensure your actual duties align with the SOC code on the CoS. The Home Office may refuse an application if the job description does not genuinely correspond to the code claimed.
Failure to meet the going rate: Even if your salary exceeds £41,700, you must also meet the occupation-specific going rate. Double-check the going rates table before accepting an offer.
Applying for medium skilled roles without a valid pathway: Medium skilled jobs are restricted. If the role is not on the temporary shortage list and you are not already a Skilled Worker in that occupation, you cannot switch into it or apply from abroad.
Missing the CoS deadline: If you need to switch by 31 December 2026 or extend by 31 December 2027, ensure your employer assigns the CoS in good time. Late applications may be refused.
Overlooking the B2 English requirement: First-time applicants from 8 January 2026 onwards must meet B2, not B1. Book your SELT or gather degree certificates early.
Switching, Extending, and Settlement
Switching from Another Visa
Many applicants switch to a Skilled Worker visa from routes such as the Graduate visa, Student visa, or other work categories. Switching is allowed if:
Your job is higher skilled, or
Your job is medium skilled, on the temporary shortage list, and your CoS is assigned by 31 December 2026
You must apply before your current visa expires and meet all Skilled Worker requirements, including salary and English language thresholds.
Extending Your Skilled Worker Visa
If your visa is due to expire, your employer can assign a new CoS for an extension. You must continue to meet the eligibility criteria—occupation code, salary, and (if applicable) CoS deadline of 31 December 2027 for medium skilled roles. Extensions can be granted for up to five years at a time, provided the total period does not exceed the route's limits.
Path to Settlement
After five continuous years as a Skilled Worker (or in a combination of eligible work routes), you may apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement). You must:
Still be employed by a licensed sponsor in an eligible occupation
Meet the minimum salary threshold at the time of your settlement application
Pass the Life in the UK test and meet English language requirements at B1 (speaking and listening) for settlement purposes
Not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the qualifying period
Settlement grants permanent residence and removes the need for future visa renewals.
Costs and Processing Times
Application fees vary by whether you apply from inside or outside the UK and the length of visa you request. Expect to pay several hundred pounds per applicant, plus the immigration health surcharge (currently charged per year of the visa). Your employer may choose to pay some or all of these costs under their sponsorship policy.
Processing times depend on where you apply. Entry clearance applications from overseas are typically decided within three weeks; in-country applications (switching or extending) usually take eight weeks, though priority and super-priority services can accelerate decisions for an additional fee.
Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your dependants. They must apply separately, pay their own fees and health surcharge, and meet relationship and age requirements. Dependants have the right to work and study in the UK without restriction and can also apply for settlement after five years.
The Skilled Worker visa is the main route for most professionals seeking to work in the UK. Success depends on securing a job offer in an eligible occupation, meeting the salary threshold for your SOC code, and ensuring your employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship before any applicable deadline.
Always verify your occupation code and going rate against the official eligible occupations and codes and going rates tables. If your role is medium skilled, check whether it appears on the temporary shortage list and confirm you are applying within the relevant CoS deadline.
With careful planning and the right job offer, the Skilled Worker route offers a clear path to living, working, and eventually settling in the United Kingdom.
