Skilled Worker Eligible Jobs: Check Your Occupation
Not every job qualifies for the UK Skilled Worker visa. This guide explains how to check whether your role is eligible, what the SOC codes mean, and what skill level is required.
- Section
- Skilled Worker Visa
- Reading time
- 10 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- New jobs must be at RQF level 6 (degree level) unless the code is on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List.
- Each job maps to a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code.
- The eligible occupations list is in Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK.
- Job duties matter more than job titles for SOC code matching.
- The list is updated regularly; check the current version.
Jobs eligible for the Skilled Worker visa must be at RQF level 6 or above, or on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List, and have a valid SOC code listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations. This guide explains how to navigate the system and check your role's eligibility.
Understanding SOC Codes
Every occupation in the UK is classified under the Standard Occupational Classification system. Each occupation has a 4-digit SOC code. For the Skilled Worker visa, the role offered by your employer must map to an eligible SOC code.
Your employer selects the SOC code when creating your Certificate of Sponsorship. The code determines the going rate for your role and whether any special provisions (like the Immigration Salary List) apply.
Skill Level Requirements
Since 22 July 2025 the skill level for a new Skilled Worker job is RQF level 6 or above:
- Level 6 and above (Bachelor's degree or higher): Professional and managerial roles. Eligible.
- Level 3 to 5 (A-level to foundation degree): Skilled trades, technicians and associate professional roles. Eligible only if the code is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, or if you are extending a visa whose first certificate of sponsorship was issued before 22 July 2025. New applicants in these jobs cannot bring a partner or children as dependants, apart from the exceptions listed on GOV.UK.
- Below level 3: Elementary occupations, basic sales roles and manual labour. Not eligible.
How to Check Your Job
- Go to Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK.
- Search for your job title or browse by sector.
- Note the SOC code and the going rate for the role.
- Check whether the role is on the Immigration Salary List for any salary discount.
- Confirm the salary threshold applies.
Common Eligible Occupations
Occupations that commonly qualify include:
- IT professionals (software developers, data analysts, cybersecurity specialists)
- Healthcare workers ( doctors, nurses, pharmacists)
- Engineers ( civil, mechanical, electrical)
- Finance professionals ( accountants, financial analysts)
- Teachers and education professionals
- Skilled trades, only while listed: bricklayers, roofers, carpenters and high-integrity pipe welders on the Immigration Salary List; electricians and plumbers on the Temporary Shortage List
- Creative professionals (graphic designers, architects)
Chefs (code 5434) are below level 6 and on neither list, so new sponsorship of chefs ended on 22 July 2025. See the chefs guide for what still applies.
When Your Job Title Does Not Match
SOC codes describe groups of related jobs, not specific titles. A "Customer Success Manager" might not appear by that title but could fall under a SOC code for business development or marketing professionals. What matters is the actual duties and responsibilities, not the title on your business card.
Your employer should select the SOC code that best matches the core duties of the role. If the wrong code is selected, the visa application could be refused.
Changes to the List
The eligible occupations list is reviewed and updated periodically. The biggest recent change took effect on 22 July 2025, when the skill level rose to RQF level 6 and the general threshold to £41,700. The 2026 changes include updates to some SOC codes and going rates. Always check the current version before applying.
Next Steps
Look up your role on the eligible occupations list. Confirm the SOC code and going rate with your employer. Ensure the salary offered meets the requirements.
Related guides:
Questions and answers
How do I check if my job is eligible for a Skilled Worker visa?
Look up your job title in the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and find the corresponding SOC code. Check that the code appears in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules as a degree-level (RQF level 6 or above) job, or, if it is a medium-skilled job (RQF level 3 to 5), that it is on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List.
What skill level is needed for the Skilled Worker visa?
Since 22 July 2025 a new Skilled Worker job must be at RQF level 6 or above, which is bachelor's degree level. Medium-skilled jobs (RQF level 3 to 5) can only be sponsored if they are on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List, or if you are extending a visa whose first certificate of sponsorship was issued before 22 July 2025. Elementary roles are not eligible.
Can I check the eligible jobs list online?
Yes. The full list is published in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules on GOV.UK. It includes SOC codes, job titles, going rates, and any additional requirements.
What if my job title does not match the SOC code exactly?
SOC codes cover groups of related roles, not specific job titles. What matters is the duties and responsibilities of the role, not the exact title. Your employer should select the SOC code that best matches the actual job duties.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.