Skilled Worker SOC Codes 2026: How to Find Your Occupation Code

Overview

Every Skilled Worker visa application is built around a four-digit number: the SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code. This code determines whether a role is eligible for sponsorship, what salary the worker must be paid, and what skill level the job must meet. Getting it wrong is one of the most common reasons for visa refusals and sponsor licence compliance issues.

This guide explains how the SOC code system works, how to find the right code for your role, and what to watch out for when preparing a Skilled Worker visa application.

What SOC Codes Are and Why They Matter

The SOC code assigned to a role determines three critical things for a Skilled Worker visa:

Eligibility. Only roles with SOC codes listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations can be sponsored. If the code is not on the list, the visa cannot be granted for that role, regardless of salary.

Salary threshold. Each SOC code has a published going rate. The applicant must be paid the higher of the going rate for their code and the general salary threshold (currently £41,700 for most roles). Two workers in different occupations could face very different minimum salaries even though they are on the same visa route.

Skill level. Since 22 July 2025, new Skilled Worker visa applications for entry clearance or switching generally require roles at RQF Level 6 (graduate level) or above. SOC codes in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations meet this requirement. Roles at RQF Level 3 to 5 (in Table 1A) can only be sponsored if they appear on the Immigration Salary List or the Temporary Shortage List.

How SOC Codes Are Structured

The SOC 2020 system organises occupations into a hierarchy:

The four-digit unit group code is what appears on the Certificate of Sponsorship and determines eligibility. Each unit group includes a description of the typical duties and example job titles that fall within it.

Importantly, multiple different job titles can sit under the same SOC code. For example, SOC 2134 covers software developers, systems architects, DevOps engineers, and other programming roles. Conversely, similar-sounding job titles can fall under different codes with different going rates.

The Tables in Appendix Skilled Occupations

Appendix Skilled Occupations organises eligible codes into several tables. Understanding which table your code appears in matters for eligibility and salary:

Table 1 contains graduate-level occupations (RQF Level 6+) with going rates for salary Options A to E. This is the primary reference table for most new Skilled Worker applications.

Table 2 lists the same occupation codes as Table 1, but with different (lower) going rates. Table 2 applies to Skilled Workers claiming salary points under Options F to J, which cover Health and Care Worker ASHE salary roles and workers qualifying under transitional salary provisions (for example, those granted permission before certain rule change dates). Table 2 codes are also eligible for Global Business Mobility and Scale-up routes.

Table 3 covers health and education occupations where salaries are set by national pay scales (such as NHS Agenda for Change). Skilled Workers in Table 3 roles can only claim salary points under Option K. Going rate discounts are not available for Table 3 occupations. Roles must be at least Agenda for Change Band 5 (Band 3 and 4 roles are only eligible under transitional provisions).

Table 1A contains sub-degree occupations (RQF Level 3 to 5). Since 22 July 2025, these codes can only be sponsored for new entry clearance or switching applications if they are listed on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Workers already sponsored in these roles before that date can extend under transitional provisions.

Tables 2AA and 3A are the sub-degree equivalents of Tables 2 and 3 respectively, with the same transitional restrictions as Table 1A.

In summary, for Skilled Workers: Table 1 applies to most standard applications (Options A to E), Table 2 applies to H&C ASHE and transitional salary cases (Options F to J), and Table 3 applies to national pay scale roles (Option K). The table your SOC code falls under determines which salary options are available.

How to Find Your SOC Code

Step 1: Check With Your Employer

If you already have a job offer, your employer (the sponsor) should be able to tell you which SOC code they intend to use on the Certificate of Sponsorship. The sponsor assigns the code when creating the CoS in the Sponsor Management System.

Step 2: Use the CASCOT Tool

The CASCOT (Computer Assisted Structured COding Tool), developed by the University of Warwick, is the recommended tool for identifying SOC codes. Enter a job title or description and it suggests matching codes. You can access it at warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/ier/software/cascot.

Step 3: Check Appendix Skilled Occupations

Browse or search the full list of eligible occupations on GOV.UK. The list is sorted by code number and includes the occupation title, example job titles, the going rate, and the skill level for each code.

Step 4: Match by Duties, Not Job Title

This is the most important principle when selecting a SOC code. The Home Office assesses whether the actual day-to-day duties of the role match the description for the selected code. A job titled "Operations Manager" could fall under several different SOC codes depending on what the person actually does each day.

Each SOC unit group has a description of typical duties in the ONS SOC 2020 documentation. The sponsor should compare the real duties of the role against these descriptions, not simply match the job title to the closest-sounding code.

Going Rates and Salary Thresholds

Every SOC code in Appendix Skilled Occupations has a published going rate: the minimum salary the Home Office requires for that specific occupation. This figure is derived from median earnings data (the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, or ASHE).

For most Skilled Worker applications, the salary must meet the higher of:

1. The general salary threshold: £41,700 per year for standard applications
2. The going rate for the specific SOC code

For example, if a role has a going rate of £45,000, the worker must be paid at least £45,000, even though the general threshold is lower. If a role has a going rate of £35,000, the worker must be paid at least £41,700 because the general threshold is higher.

Reduced Thresholds

Lower salary floors apply in certain circumstances:

New entrants (under 26, recently qualified, or new to the UK labour market) may qualify at a reduced general threshold of £30,960 and 70% of the going rate.

Relevant PhD holders benefit from a reduced general threshold of £37,500 and 90% of the going rate. For STEM PhDs, the floor is £33,400 and 80% of the going rate.

Immigration Salary List (ISL) roles have a reduced general threshold of £33,400, though they must still meet 100% of the going rate. The ISL replaced the former Shortage Occupation List.

Transitional provisions may apply to workers who held a Skilled Worker visa before specific rule change dates (4 April 2024 or 22 July 2025). These can allow extensions at lower thresholds than what applies to new applications.

The Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List

Immigration Salary List (ISL)

The ISL identifies occupations where the Home Office has accepted there is a shortage of workers. Roles on the ISL benefit from a reduced general threshold of £33,400 (rather than £41,700), though the going rate for the specific code still applies. The ISL is reviewed periodically and is due to be phased out by December 2026.

Temporary Shortage List (TSL)

The TSL was introduced alongside the July 2025 reforms to allow continued sponsorship of certain sub-degree (RQF Level 3 to 5) roles. Without the TSL, these roles would not be eligible for new Skilled Worker applications under the current rules. The TSL is also due to expire on 31 December 2026, with the Migration Advisory Committee expected to publish final recommendations on its future during 2026.

Common SOC Code Mistakes

Choosing Based on Job Title Alone

Two roles with identical job titles can fall under different SOC codes if their duties differ. "Business Analyst" could be coded as 2423 (management consultants and business analysts) or 3539 (financial and accounting technicians not elsewhere classified), depending on whether the role focuses on strategic consulting or data processing.

Selecting a Code to Fit the Salary

Some sponsors are tempted to choose a SOC code with a lower going rate to make the salary requirement easier to meet. This is a serious compliance risk. The Home Office cross-references the duties described on the CoS with the selected code. If the duties do not match, the application will be refused and the sponsor may face compliance action.

Using Outdated SOC 2010 Codes

The switch from SOC 2010 to SOC 2020 on 4 April 2024 changed many code numbers and reclassified some occupations. SOC 2010 codes are no longer valid for new applications. If you are referencing a previous visa or CoS that used a SOC 2010 code, you will need to identify the equivalent SOC 2020 code.

Overlooking Table Restrictions

A SOC code being listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations does not automatically mean it is eligible. Codes in Table 1A (sub-degree level) are only available for new applications if they appear on the ISL or TSL. Sponsors who assign a Table 1A code without checking list eligibility risk a refusal.

Not Checking for Conditions

Some SOC codes carry additional conditions. For example, certain healthcare codes require registration with a specific regulatory body (such as the NMC for nursing roles or the HCPC for allied health professions). Education roles may require Qualified Teacher Status. These conditions must be met at the time of application.

What Employers Need to Know

Assigning the Code

The employer (sponsor) is responsible for selecting and assigning the correct SOC code when creating the Certificate of Sponsorship. This is not the applicant's responsibility, though applicants should verify that the code used matches their actual role.

Keeping Records

The Home Office recommends that sponsors retain evidence of how they selected the SOC code, including how they matched the role's duties to the code description. If the Home Office questions the choice during a compliance visit or audit, the sponsor will need to demonstrate that the selection was genuine and accurate.

Compliance Risk

Using the wrong SOC code is one of the leading causes of sponsor licence compliance action. This can range from an action plan (requiring the sponsor to correct processes) to suspension or revocation of the licence. Sponsors should review SOC code assignments whenever a role changes significantly or when renewing a CoS for an existing worker.

English Language Requirement

As of 8 January 2026, the English language requirement for new Skilled Worker visa applications increased from B1 to B2 (CEFR). This applies to all four skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Workers who held a Skilled Worker visa before 8 January 2026 and are applying to extend or update it remain subject to the B1 requirement and do not need to prove their English again. However, applicants switching from a different visa type to the Skilled Worker route must meet the B2 standard.

How AssessNow Can Help

Our Skilled Worker Salary Requirement assessment checks your salary against the going rate for your specific SOC code, including new entrant rates, PhD reductions, and transitional provisions. Rather than manually cross-referencing tables and going rates, you enter your details and receive a personalised report showing which salary options apply to your situation, whether your salary meets the threshold, and what evidence you will need to prepare.