UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligible Occupations List 2026 Updated: New Codes, Salaries & Shortage Roles

The UK Government has updated the eligible occupations, SOC codes, going rates and salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker visa route.

Important date check: the specific GOV.UK occupation page supplied for this article is currently marked “Updated 22 July 2025.” It is therefore not accurate to describe that page itself as an October 2026 occupation-list update. However, the page remains the official occupation-code publication currently available, and current GOV.UK immigration rules and salary guidance can be checked alongside it.

If you’re planning to work in the UK in 2026, you MUST check if your job code is still eligible, what the applicable minimum salary is, and whether you qualify for lower salary rules.

This is particularly important for overseas job seekers, international graduates already in the UK, employers and HR teams preparing Skilled Worker sponsorship applications.

What Is the Skilled Worker Visa Eligible Occupations List?

The Skilled Worker visa eligible occupations list is the official GOV.UK reference showing which occupations can be sponsored under the route and how each occupation is classified.

Each job is linked to a 4-digit SOC 2020 occupation code.

SOC means Standard Occupational Classification. The code is based on the actual occupation and duties rather than simply the job title an employer chooses to advertise.

For example, the current list includes:

• 2121 – Civil engineers
• 2122 – Mechanical engineers
• 2134 – Programmers and software development professionals
• 2135 – Cyber security professionals
• 2311 – Higher education teaching professionals
• 2421 – Chartered and certified accountants
• 2453 – Quantity surveyors
• 2461 – Social workers
• 6135 – Care workers and home carers
• 6136 – Senior care workers

The GOV.UK publication classifies occupations as Higher Skilled, Medium Skilled or Ineligible.

Having a job title that sounds suitable does not automatically make a person eligible. The occupation code, actual duties, salary, sponsor and the rules applying to the particular applicant all matter.

Major Update: SOC 2010 to SOC 2020 Codes – What Changed?

One of the biggest points applicants need to understand is that the move to SOC 2020 did not happen in October 2026.

The official occupation page states that occupation codes changed on 4 April 2024. Some occupations therefore have different codes from those used under the previous SOC 2010 system.

This matters because an old job advertisement, previous visa application or older immigration article may quote a SOC 2010 code.

Do not automatically use that old number for a new application.

Instead:

1. Identify the actual duties of the job.
2. Find the relevant SOC 2020 code.
3. Check whether the code is Higher Skilled, Medium Skilled or Ineligible.
4. Check the current salary requirements.
5. Check whether any special conditions apply.

GOV.UK specifically recommends using the CASCOT occupation coding tool if you do not know your occupation code.

For some existing Skilled Worker applicants, older SOC 2010 codes can still matter when applying under transitional arrangements. This is why an existing visa holder should not simply replace an old code with a new code without checking the applicable rules.

Full List of Eligible Occupations for Skilled Worker Visa 2026 – Categorized Breakdown

The official list is too large to reproduce as hundreds of individual rows. A more useful approach is to identify the main sectors and then check the exact code for the particular job.

The following examples are taken from the current official occupation list. They are examples, not a ranking of which occupations are most in demand.

IT and Technology

Technology remains one of the major groups represented in the Higher Skilled section.

Examples include:

• 2131 – IT project managers
• 2132 – IT managers
• 2133 – IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
• 2134 – Programmers and software development professionals
• 2135 – Cyber security professionals
• 2136 – IT quality and testing professionals
• 2137 – IT network professionals
• 2139 – Information technology professionals not elsewhere classified
• 2141 – Web design professionals
• 2142 – Graphic and multimedia designers

Examples of related roles include software developers, data engineers, IT architects, cyber security specialists, DevOps engineers and web designers.

Health and Care

The list contains a wide range of healthcare occupations, including doctors, therapists, healthcare professionals, nursing roles and certain care occupations.

Examples include:

• 2211 – Generalist medical practitioners
• 2212 – Specialist medical practitioners
• 2221 – Physiotherapists
• 2222 – Occupational therapists
• 2223 – Speech and language therapists
• 2461 – Social workers
• 6131 – Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
• 6133 – Dental nurses
• 6135 – Care workers and home carers
• 6136 – Senior care workers

Healthcare and education occupations can have different salary arrangements because some going rates are linked to national pay scales.

Engineering

Engineering has a substantial presence in the Higher Skilled section.

Examples include:

• 2121 – Civil engineers
• 2122 – Mechanical engineers
• 2123 – Electrical engineers
• 2124 – Electronics engineers
• 2125 – Production and process engineers
• 2126 – Aerospace engineers
• 2127 – Engineering project managers and project engineers
• 2129 – Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified

The list includes related areas such as structural engineering, power systems, telecommunications, robotics, energy and biomedical engineering.

Education

Education-related occupations include:

• 2311 – Higher education teaching professionals
• 2312 – Further education teaching professionals
• 2313 – Secondary education teaching professionals
• 2314 – Primary education teaching professionals
• 2315 – Nursery education teaching professionals
• 2316 – Special and additional needs education teaching professionals
• 2317 – Teachers of English as a foreign language
• 2319 – Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified

There are also medium-skilled education and childcare occupations, but eligibility can depend on the particular rules and circumstances.

Finance and Business

Examples include:

• 2421 – Chartered and certified accountants
• 2422 – Finance and investment analysts and advisers
• 2423 – Taxation experts
• 2431 – Management consultants and business analysts
• 2432 – Marketing and commercial managers
• 2433 – Actuaries, economists and statisticians
• 2440 – Business and financial project management professionals

Not every finance or administration job is eligible, so applicants should check the precise code rather than assuming that working in finance automatically qualifies.

Construction and Property

Examples include:

• 2451 – Architects
• 2452 – Chartered architectural technologists, planning officers and consultants
• 2453 – Quantity surveyors
• 2454 – Chartered surveyors
• 2455 – Construction project managers and related professionals
• 5313 – Bricklayers
• 5314 – Roofers, roof tilers and slaters
• 5316 – Carpenters and joiners

The higher-skilled professional construction roles are treated differently from many medium-skilled construction occupations, so checking the exact code is essential.

Selected Eligible Occupations and Going Rates

The following table gives examples of occupations and their current standard going rates. The going rates are generally based on a 37.5-hour working week and must be adjusted for different working patterns.

*This is a selection for illustration, not an official demand ranking. Going rates are from the current GOV.UK Skilled Worker going-rates publication.

Salary Thresholds Explained – How Much Do You Need to Earn?

The Skilled Worker visa salary threshold 2026 is not simply one figure for every applicant.

For most new applications, the standard salary requirement is generally the higher of:

• £41,700 per year, or
• the applicable going rate for the occupation.

For example, if the going rate for an occupation is £54,700, being paid £42,000 would normally not be enough because the occupation’s going rate is higher.

There are, however, circumstances where lower salary rules can apply.

The new-entrant and relevant PhD categories can allow salaries to fall below the normal £41,700 threshold, but the applicant must satisfy the specific conditions.

What Does the Going Rate Mean?

The going rate is the salary figure attached to the particular occupation code.

It is separate from the general Skilled Worker salary threshold.

This means an applicant should check both numbers.

For many occupations, the salary must satisfy whichever applicable rule produces the higher requirement. Some occupations have standard and lower going-rate figures, while healthcare and education roles can use national pay scales.

Immigration Salary List vs Old Shortage Occupation List – Which Jobs Get Discounts in 2026?

The old Shortage Occupation List (SOL) was replaced by the Immigration Salary List (ISL) in April 2024.

The two should therefore not be treated as the same list.

The Immigration Salary List identifies particular occupations where a reduced salary threshold can apply. The current GOV.UK rules also distinguish the Immigration Salary List from the newer Temporary Shortage List, which provides time-limited access for certain medium-skilled occupations.

For example, the current Immigration Salary List includes certain roles such as:

• 5313 – Bricklayers
• 5314 – Roofers, roof tilers and slaters
• 5316 – Carpenters and joiners
• 6131 – Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
• 6135 – Care workers and home carers
• 6136 – Senior care workers

The exact conditions and removal dates differ by occupation.

Ineligible Jobs – Roles That No Longer Qualify for Skilled Worker Visa in 2026

The occupation list also contains many roles marked Ineligible.

Examples include:

• 7111 – Sales and retail assistants
• 7112 – Retail cashiers and check-out operators
• 7211 – Call and contact centre occupations
• 7219 – Customer service occupations not elsewhere classified
• 9223 – Cleaners and domestics
• 9231 – Security guards and related occupations
• 9263 – Kitchen and catering assistants
• 9264 – Waiters and waitresses
• 9265 – Bar staff
• 9266 – Coffee shop workers

This does not mean every job in a particular industry is automatically ineligible. The exact SOC 2020 code and duties must be checked.

How to Find Your Occupation Code and Check Eligibility

Follow these steps before accepting a job for Skilled Worker sponsorship.

Step 1: Identify the actual duties

Look beyond the job title. Read the job description and identify what you will actually do.

Step 2: Find the SOC 2020 code

Use the official GOV.UK list or the CASCOT occupation coding tool recommended by GOV.UK.

Step 3: Check the eligibility category

Confirm whether the code is:

• Higher Skilled
• Medium Skilled
• Ineligible

Medium-skilled occupations have additional restrictions and may require the occupation to appear on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List, or the applicant to qualify under transitional arrangements.

Step 4: Check the salary

Compare the proposed salary against the relevant salary threshold and occupation-specific going rate.

Step 5: Ask the employer

The sponsoring employer should confirm the SOC 2020 code being used on the Certificate of Sponsorship and make sure it accurately reflects the job.

How to Apply Once Your Job Is Eligible

Being on the occupation list is only one part of the Skilled Worker visa requirements.

You generally need:

• An eligible job
• A job offer from an approved UK sponsor
• A Certificate of Sponsorship
• The required salary
• The required English-language ability
• The other Skilled Worker eligibility requirements

The employer must use the appropriate occupation code and meet the sponsorship requirements.

Do not rely solely on an online vacancy saying “visa sponsorship available.” Confirm the SOC 2020 code, salary and sponsorship arrangements with the employer.

Do Care Workers Still Qualify for the Skilled Worker Visa?

Yes, SOC 2020 codes 6135 and 6136 remain listed, but there is an important restriction.

From 22 July 2025, new overseas entry-clearance applications for care workers and senior care workers were closed. Current rules allow certain people already in the UK to switch into these occupations, subject to specific conditions. One route allows a worker to qualify after legally working for the sponsoring employer in the relevant role for at least three months, with applications under that provision made before 22 July 2028.

For care jobs in England, the sponsor must also meet the relevant Care Quality Commission registration requirement, subject to the specified transitional rules.

Therefore, a care vacancy advertised online as “Skilled Worker sponsorship available” should not automatically be interpreted as meaning an overseas applicant can obtain entry clearance for that role.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know my SOC code?

Use the GOV.UK occupation list and the CASCOT occupation coding tool. Compare your actual duties with the occupation descriptions rather than choosing a code simply because the job title sounds similar.

What if my job is not on the list?

Check for a similar occupation and search by duties as well as job title. If the appropriate SOC 2020 code is genuinely ineligible, the job cannot normally qualify for Skilled Worker sponsorship under that occupation. Medium-skilled roles may have additional routes to eligibility through the Immigration Salary List, Temporary Shortage List or transitional provisions.

What is the minimum salary in 2026?

For a standard Skilled Worker application, the general threshold is £41,700 per year, but you normally also need to meet the occupation’s applicable going rate. Some applicants qualify for lower salary rules, including eligible new entrants, certain PhD holders and applicants in qualifying healthcare, education or Immigration Salary List occupations.

Can I switch from SOC 2010 to SOC 2020?

SOC 2020 is the current occupation classification for new applications. The official occupation page states that codes changed on 4 April 2024. However, transitional immigration rules can still refer to previous SOC 2010 codes for certain existing Skilled Workers, so the correct treatment depends on your immigration history and application.

Do care workers still qualify?

Care workers and senior care workers remain under SOC 2020 codes 6135 and 6136, but new overseas entry clearance applications are closed. Certain people already in the UK can continue to switch into these roles under transitional arrangements, subject to the rules and deadlines.

Conclusion

The UK Skilled Worker visa occupation system has changed significantly, and checking an old SOC code or an old salary figure can lead to the wrong conclusion about eligibility.

For 2026 applications, focus on the SOC 2020 occupation code, the actual duties of the job, the current going rate, the general salary threshold and any Immigration Salary List, Temporary Shortage List or transitional conditions that apply.

The most important point is simple: do not check only the job title. Check the code, salary and immigration conditions together.

Information verified from official GOV.UK Skilled Worker visa eligible occupations and codes publication as checked in October 2026. Immigration rules change frequently – always check the official GOV.UK link before applying.

Check the official GOV.UK Skilled Worker eligible occupations and codes publication