Skilled Worker Visa for Engineers: UK Guide

Eligible Engineering Roles

Engineering roles across all disciplines qualify for the Skilled Worker visa:

• Civil and structural engineers
• Mechanical engineers
• Electrical and electronic engineers
• Chemical engineers
• Software engineers and developers
• Aerospace engineers
• Environmental engineers
• Production and manufacturing engineers

Each discipline has its own SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code with a specific going rate. Check the eligible jobs list for your specific role.

SOC Codes by Engineering Discipline

Your SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code determines your going rate and whether your role appears on the Immigration Salary List. Your employer selects the code when assigning your Certificate of Sponsorship. The code must accurately reflect the work you will do. The main engineering codes are:

• SOC 2121 — Civil engineers. Going rate £50,400 a year.
• SOC 2122 — Mechanical engineers. Going rate £46,800 a year.
• SOC 2123 — Electrical engineers. Going rate £58,700 a year.
• SOC 2124 — Electronics engineers. Covers engineers who design and develop electronic systems and devices. Going rate £52,000 a year.
• SOC 2125 — Production and process engineers. Covers engineers who plan and manage manufacturing and production. Going rate £45,000 a year.
• SOC 2126 — Aerospace engineers. Covers aircraft and spacecraft design and development. Going rate £52,400 a year.
• SOC 2127 — Engineering project managers and project engineers. Covers engineers who run engineering projects. Going rate £51,900 a year.
• SOC 2129 — Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified. A catch-all for engineering roles that do not fit the other codes. Going rate £46,100 a year.

The going rates above are the figures published in Appendix Skilled Occupations (version of 3 August 2026). They are updated from time to time, so always confirm the current going rate for your code on GOV.UK before you rely on a number. Our going rate guide explains how the rate interacts with the general threshold.

Software engineers are usually classified under information technology (IT) SOC codes rather than the engineering codes above. If you write software for a living, see our dedicated guide for software engineers for the correct codes and going rates.

Professional Registration

The Engineering Council oversees professional registration for engineers in the UK. There are three main titles:

• EngTech: Engineering Technician.
• IEng: Incorporated Engineer.
• CEng: Chartered Engineer (the highest level).

Registration is through a licensed professional engineering institution (such as the Institution of Civil Engineers, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, or others). Your overseas qualifications may be accepted, sometimes with additional requirements.

PhD and Tradeable Points

The Skilled Worker visa awards points for several factors. Some of these points are tradeable, which means a strength in one area can offset a lower salary. A PhD is one of the most valuable tradeable factors for engineers.

A PhD in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subject relevant to your job earns the maximum tradeable points. This lets you meet a lower salary figure than you would otherwise need. A PhD in a non-STEM subject still earns points, but fewer.

The discount has limits. You must still be paid at or above a defined salary floor, and you must still meet the going rate for your SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code after the discount is applied. The PhD must be relevant to the role you are being sponsored for. Our PhD points guide explains how the trade-off works, and the salary calculation guide shows how the numbers combine.

Salary Expectations

Engineering salaries in the UK vary by discipline, location, and seniority:

• Graduate engineers: 28,000-35,000 pounds
• Mid-level engineers: 35,000-55,000 pounds
• Senior/chartered engineers: 55,000-80,000+ pounds
• Engineering managers/directors: 80,000-120,000+ pounds

Set these against the going rates above, which run from £45,000 to £58,700: a salary in the graduate range is below the going rate for every engineering code, and only the new-entrant or PhD rules allow a lower figure (never below £33,400). The general Skilled Worker salary threshold of £41,700 also applies. The salary calculation uses your guaranteed basic gross pay. You must meet both the general threshold and the going rate for your specific SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code.

English Language Requirement

For a new Skilled Worker application made on or after 8 January 2026 you must show English at CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) level B2, which is upper intermediate. This is the same requirement that applies to all new Skilled Worker applicants. B1 still applies if you are extending a visa you held before 8 January 2026.

Most engineers meet this requirement easily. If your engineering degree was taught and assessed in English, that usually satisfies the requirement on its own. If your degree was not taught in English, you take an approved Secure English Language Test instead.

Our English language tests guide lists the approved tests and explains how to prove your level. Note that the visa requirement is separate from any higher standard an individual employer may set.

Chartered Status (CEng) and Career Value

Chartered Engineer (CEng) status is not a requirement for the Skilled Worker visa. You can be sponsored and granted a visa without it. It is, however, the most widely recognised mark of professional competence for engineers in the UK, and it can shape your long-term career value.

CEng status is awarded by the Engineering Council through a licensed professional engineering institution. The main institutions include the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Each covers different disciplines, and you apply through the one that fits your field.

Chartered status often unlocks senior roles, higher pay, and responsibility for signing off on major projects. Because senior and chartered engineers tend to earn well above the salary threshold, working towards CEng status can also make later stages of your immigration journey, such as settlement, more straightforward.

Immigration Salary List for Engineers

The Immigration Salary List replaced the older Shortage Occupation List. Roles on it can use a lower general threshold of £33,400, but still need the full going rate. None of the engineering professional codes (2121 to 2129) is on the version published on 3 August 2026. Four engineering technician codes (3112, 3113, 3114 and 3116) are on the separate Temporary Shortage List, which allows sponsorship below degree level but does not let new applicants bring dependants.

Check the current version against your specific SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code before relying on a lower threshold. Our Immigration Salary List guide explains how the list works and where to find the latest version. Even if your role is listed, you must still meet the going rate that applies to it.

Finding a Sponsor

Many UK engineering firms hold sponsor licences. Major employers include consultancies, contractors, technology companies, energy firms, and manufacturers. Check the register of sponsors on GOV.UK.

Path to Settlement

Engineers can apply for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after 5 years on the Skilled Worker visa. The engineering profession's strong salaries mean that meeting the ILR salary threshold is usually straightforward. After ILR, you can apply for British citizenship.

Next Steps

Related guides:

• Skilled Worker Visa Guide
• Skilled Worker Eligible Jobs
• Skilled Worker Visa for Software Engineers
• Professional Registration
• PhD Points for Skilled Workers
• Recognition of Foreign Qualifications
• English Language Tests for UK Visas
• Skilled Worker Visa Costs

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