What is a SOC code for UK Skilled Worker visa?

A SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is a numerical code that identifies a specific type of job. The UK Home Office uses SOC codes to determine which jobs are eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship and to set the going rate salary requirement for each occupation. Every Skilled Worker visa application requires the employer to assign a SOC code to the role on the Certificate of Sponsorship. The SOC code determines both whether the job qualifies and what the minimum salary must be.

What is the going rate for Skilled Worker visa?

The going rate is the minimum salary for a specific SOC code occupation under the Skilled Worker visa. It is published by the Home Office and based on the 25th percentile of UK earnings for that occupational group according to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE). The going rate differs by occupation. Some roles have going rates above the general threshold of £38,700. Applicants must meet whichever figure is higher: the general threshold or the going rate.

What is the difference between the going rate and the general threshold?

The general threshold is £38,700 per year from April 2024 and applies to all Skilled Worker applications regardless of occupation. The going rate is occupation-specific and may be higher or lower than the general threshold. Applicants must meet both requirements: the salary must be at or above £38,700 AND at or above the going rate for their specific SOC code. If the going rate is lower than £38,700, the threshold of £38,700 effectively applies. If the going rate is higher than £38,700, the going rate applies.

What is the new entrant rate for Skilled Worker visa?

The new entrant rate is a reduced salary threshold (70 percent of the going rate) available to applicants who are within 3 years of completing a UK bachelor's or master's degree, within 3 years of completing a PhD, or currently in a postdoctoral research position. The new entrant rate allows recently graduated Nigerians on Graduate Route to qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship at a lower salary. The new entrant rate applies per SOC code. It cannot be used with the general threshold reduction.

Can my employer sponsor me for a role that is not on the eligible occupations list?

No. Only roles with SOC codes on the Skilled Worker eligible occupations list can be sponsored. If a job's SOC code does not appear on the list, the employer cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for that role and the Skilled Worker visa cannot be granted. If you are unsure whether your role qualifies, ask your employer to confirm the SOC code they plan to use and cross-reference it against the gov.uk eligible occupations list.

What happens if my salary is at the going rate but below £38,700?

If the going rate for your SOC code is below £38,700, then £38,700 applies as the effective floor. Your salary must still meet £38,700. The going rate only sets a higher bar if it exceeds £38,700. In practice, for most common skilled roles in the UK, the going rate is either close to or above £38,700 for experienced workers. Check both figures: your salary must meet or exceed whichever is higher.

How do I find out what SOC code my employer is using?

Ask your employer's HR or People team to confirm the SOC code they will enter on your Certificate of Sponsorship. The SOC code determines the going rate requirement. If the employer uses the wrong SOC code, the salary assessment may be incorrect and the visa could be refused or curtailed later. Confirm the SOC code in writing before submitting the application.

Are there shortage occupations with lower salary requirements?

The Shortage Occupation List was abolished in April 2024. The 20 percent discount on going rates for shortage occupations no longer applies. All Skilled Worker applications are now assessed against the standard going rate and the £38,700 general threshold. Roles that were previously on the Shortage Occupation List are now treated the same as all other eligible occupations.

Does the SOC code affect my visa application if I change jobs?

Yes. If you change jobs while on a Skilled Worker visa, a new Certificate of Sponsorship is issued by the new employer with the SOC code for the new role. The new SOC code's going rate applies to the new application. If the new role has a higher going rate or if the general threshold has increased since your original application, you must meet the new requirements. Always check whether your salary for the new role meets the current going rate before switching employers.

How often does the Home Office update going rates?

The Home Office updates going rates periodically, typically following the annual release of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data by the Office for National Statistics. Major updates occurred in April 2024 when going rates were significantly revised upward alongside the general threshold increase to £38,700. Rates may be updated again in future years. Always check the current going rates on gov.uk before accepting a job offer or submitting a visa application.

What is the Immigration Skills Charge and does it affect my salary?

The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a fee paid by the employer, not the employee. The employer pays £1,000 per year for small companies or £239 per 6 months (£478 per year) for charities and small sponsors. The ISC does not affect the applicant's salary requirement. It is a cost borne by the employer. However, some employers try to pass this cost to the worker through lower salary offers. If your employer mentions the ISC as a reason for a lower salary offer, this is not a valid justification under Home Office rules: the salary requirement for the visa cannot be reduced by employer costs.

UK SOC Code Finder and Skilled Worker Salary Checker 2024

DeyWithMe How it works ↓

UK SOC Code Finder and Going Rate Salary Checker

Search your job title to find its SOC code. Enter your offered salary to check if it meets the Skilled Worker going rate and £38,700 threshold.

Based on April 2024 Skilled Worker going rates. Going rates change periodically. Verify at gov.uk before submitting a visa application. Not immigration advice.

Search by job title or SOC code

Type any job title, e.g. “software developer”, “nurse”, “accountant”. Select the closest match from the results.

Type at least 2 characters to search 70+ eligible occupations

SOC Code and Salary Mistakes That Get Visas Refused

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Checking only the £38,700 threshold and ignoring the going rate

The going rate for some roles is significantly above £38,700. A solicitor, pharmacist, or experienced engineer may have going rates of £45,000 to £60,000+. Meeting £38,700 does not mean meeting the going rate. Both must be satisfied.

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Not asking the employer which SOC code they are using

The SOC code determines the going rate. Two very similar job titles can have different SOC codes with different going rates. A “senior developer” and a “software architect” may sit in different SOC groups. Always confirm the exact SOC code your employer will use on the COS.

Do Not Miss This Step: UK Skilled Worker Salary Checker

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Assuming the new entrant rate applies without checking eligibility

The new entrant rate is only available if you graduated within the last 3 years. If your graduation was more than 3 years ago, the full going rate applies. Many applicants use the new entrant rate incorrectly and face refusals when UKVI checks the graduation date against the COS submission date.

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Including bonuses or allowances in the salary for threshold purposes

Only the guaranteed basic annual salary counts toward the going rate and threshold. Performance bonuses, tips, commission, and non-cash benefits generally cannot be counted. If your basic salary is £35,000 and you receive £5,000 in bonuses, the effective salary for threshold checking is £35,000, which fails the £38,700 requirement.

How the SOC Code Finder and Going Rate Checker Works

Every Skilled Worker visa application requires the employer to assign a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code to the sponsored role. The SOC code determines two things: whether the job qualifies for Skilled Worker sponsorship at all, and what the minimum salary (going rate) must be for that specific occupation.

This tool searches across 70+ commonly sponsored occupations, retrieves the going rate and new entrant rate for the selected role, and compares a given salary against both the occupation-specific going rate and the general £38,700 threshold (effective April 2024).

Effective Floor = MAX(General Threshold, Going Rate)
                = MAX(£38,700, [SOC-specific going rate])

New Entrant Floor = MAX(£30,960, Going Rate x 70%)
                  (only available within 3yr of graduation)

Salary verdict:
  PASS     = Salary >= Effective Floor
  NE PASS  = Salary >= New Entrant Floor (if NE eligible)
  FAIL     = Salary < Both floors
  GAP      = Effective Floor - Salary (if fail)
    

The Shortage Occupation List discount was abolished in April 2024. Before April 2024, roles on the Shortage Occupation List qualified at 80 percent of the going rate. This 20 percent discount no longer exists. All roles are now assessed at the full going rate (or new entrant rate where eligible). If you were relying on a shortage occupation discount in your planning, recalculate with the current rules.

Going Rate Reference Table: Common Roles for Nigerian Applicants

Role	SOC code	Going rate	New entrant rate	Effective floor
Software developer	2136	£41,400	£34,100	£41,400
Registered nurse (general)	2231	£38,700	£27,090	£38,700
Civil engineer	2121	£40,000	£28,000	£40,000
Chartered accountant	2421	£42,000	£29,400	£42,000
Secondary school teacher	2314	£31,650	£22,155	£38,700
Pharmacist	2213	£45,000	£31,500	£45,000
Data analyst	2425	£38,700	£27,090	£38,700
HR manager	1135	£46,000	£32,200	£46,000
Financial analyst	2422	£43,500	£30,450	£43,500
Solicitor	2412	£50,200	£35,140	£50,200

Do Not Miss This Step: UK New Entrant Salary Checker

Going rates and effective floors are based on April 2024 Home Office published rates. Verify at gov.uk before relying on these figures for visa planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a SOC code and why does it matter for my visa?

A SOC code (Standard Occupational Classification) is a 4-digit number that identifies a job type. For Skilled Worker visas, the SOC code determines whether your job is eligible for sponsorship and what the minimum salary (going rate) must be. The employer selects the SOC code when issuing your Certificate of Sponsorship. The wrong SOC code can cause a refusal even if your salary is correct.

What is the difference between the going rate and the £38,700 threshold?

The £38,700 is the general floor that applies to all Skilled Worker applications from April 2024. The going rate is role-specific. Your salary must meet both. If the going rate is £42,000, you need £42,000 even though the general threshold is only £38,700. If the going rate is £30,000, the £38,700 threshold still applies as the effective floor.

Am I eligible for the new entrant rate?

The new entrant rate (70 percent of the going rate) is available if you graduated from your most recent UK degree within the last 3 years, or you completed a PhD within the last 3 years, or you are in a postdoctoral position. If you graduated more than 3 years ago, you are not eligible for the new entrant rate and the full going rate applies. Check your graduation date before assuming this discount applies.

Can tips, bonuses or allowances count toward the salary threshold?

Generally no. Only guaranteed basic gross annual salary counts. Performance-related bonuses, discretionary payments, tips, non-cash benefits, shift allowances, and overtime are generally excluded from the salary calculation for threshold purposes. There are limited exceptions for certain guaranteed allowances, but the safest approach is to ensure the basic salary meets the threshold without relying on variable pay components.

What if my employer offers a salary just below the going rate?

The application will be refused. There is no tolerance or rounding. The salary must be at or above the going rate and the £38,700 threshold. If you are a few hundred pounds below, you can try to negotiate the offer upward. If the employer is unwilling to increase the salary to the threshold, the Skilled Worker visa cannot be granted for that role at that salary.

Disclaimer: Going rates shown are based on published UK Home Office Skilled Worker eligible occupations tables effective April 2024. Going rates change periodically. Occupation descriptions and SOC code assignments used by individual employers may differ from those shown here. This tool is for planning reference only. Always verify the exact going rate for your specific SOC code at gov.uk before accepting a job offer or paying any visa fees. DeyWithMe is not affiliated with the UK Home Office or UKVI. This is not immigration advice.

Do Not Miss This Step: UK Skilled Worker Minimum Salary

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UK SOC Code Finder and Salary Checker

UK SOC Code Finder and Going Rate Salary Checker

How the SOC Code Finder and Going Rate Checker Works

Going Rate Reference Table: Common Roles for Nigerian Applicants

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