A SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code classifies an occupation by skill level and duties. For UK Skilled Worker visas, the SOC code determines whether the role qualifies for sponsorship and what salary threshold applies. Get the SOC code wrong and the visa is refused or the licence is at risk on audit. The current edition is SOC 2020.
Picking the right SOC code is one of the most underappreciated decisions in UK sponsorship. Sponsors often think it''s just an administrative classification. UKVI treats it as a foundational test of whether the visa is legitimate.
How SOC codes are structured
A SOC code is a 4-digit number:
- First digit: major group (1 = managers and senior officials, 2 = professionals, 3 = associate professionals, etc.).
- Subsequent digits: progressively narrower occupation classifications.
UK SOC 2020 is the current edition. UK SOC 2026 is being introduced gradually but SOC 2020 remains operative for Skilled Worker visas as of 2026.
The Home Office maintains a list of eligible SOC codes for the Skilled Worker route in Appendix Skilled Occupations to the Immigration Rules. Most are at RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) or higher.
How to find the right SOC code
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Read the actual duties of the role — not the title. A "Senior Manager" with finance duties is different from a "Senior Manager" with operations duties.
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Search the Appendix Skilled Occupations list for SOC codes. Each code has a description of typical duties.
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Match the role''s duties to the SOC code description that best fits. The match should be substantial — most of the duties in the SOC code description should match most of the actual duties.
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Check the going rate for the matched SOC code. The salary must meet the higher of £38,700 or the going rate (with limited tradeable points exceptions).
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Verify with multiple sources — large role mismatches are spotted by UKVI immediately.
The going rate
Each eligible SOC code has a "going rate" published by the Home Office — typically the median salary for that occupation in the UK.
The minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa is the higher of:
- £38,700 (general threshold, raised from £26,200 in April 2024), OR
- The going rate for the SOC code.
For some SOC codes the going rate is well above £38,700 (consultants, certain engineers, senior IT roles). For others the £38,700 floor is the binding constraint (more junior roles in lower-paying sectors).
Tradeable points
Lower thresholds apply (typically 70-90% of the going rate, with the floor at £30,960) when:
- New entrant: first 4 years of Skilled Worker sponsorship, or under age 26.
- PhD relevance: applicant holds a PhD relevant to the role.
- STEM PhD: applicant holds a PhD in STEM relevant to the role.
- Shortage occupation: role on the Immigration Salary List.
The previous "shortage occupation discount" was 20% of the going rate; the current rules are narrower and use the £30,960 floor.
Common SOC codes for UK SME hiring
| Role | Common SOC code | Indicative going rate (2024/25) |
|---|---|---|
| Software engineer | 2136 (programmers and software development professionals) | ~£42,000-£50,000 |
| Marketing manager | 1132 (marketing and sales directors) or 2473 (marketing associate professionals) | Varies by level |
| Accountant | 2422 (chartered and certified accountants) | ~£40,000+ |
| Solicitor | 2412 (solicitors) | ~£40,000+ |
| Business analyst | 2421 (chartered and certified accountants — for finance focus) or 3539 (business and related research professionals) | Varies |
| Senior care worker | 6135 (care workers and home carers) — note: now requires Health and Care Worker visa, not Skilled Worker | Specific rates |
| Engineering | 2122, 2123, 2124, 2126 (specific engineering disciplines) | ~£40,000-£55,000+ |
| Project manager | 2421 or 2424 depending on sector | ~£40,000+ |
For each, the actual eligible code depends on the specific duties — not the role title.
The genuineness test
UKVI assesses every Skilled Worker visa application for whether the SOC code genuinely fits. Red flags they look for:
Title-skill mismatch
A "Senior Software Engineer" SOC code (high skill, high salary) being filled by someone who''s clearly junior, or where the actual duties are basic.
SOC code at the boundary
Choosing the slightly higher-skill SOC code (with a slightly higher salary, but matching the threshold) when a lower-skill code would more accurately describe the role. UKVI sees the reverse-engineering pattern.
Multiple roles same SOC code, identical descriptions
A common pattern in sponsor licence abuse. Several different workers all on the same SOC code with copy-paste duties — and very few of them performing those duties in reality.
SOC code from a different industry
A SOC code that''s mismatched with the company''s actual business activity. A construction company sponsoring software developers in unrelated work — possible, but raises questions.
Salary exactly at the threshold
Salaries set precisely at the going rate or general threshold (not slightly above) — suggests the threshold drove the figure, not market reality.
Pitfalls
Wrong SOC code chosen at CoS assignment
If the SOC code on the CoS is wrong, the visa application may be refused. Even if it succeeds, the mismatch is found later on audit.
SOC code right at start but role evolves
A worker promoted into duties at a higher SOC code (different occupation, not just more seniority) needs a new CoS — not just a salary update.
Going rate increases mid-visa
Going rates are updated periodically. A worker''s salary that''s above the going rate when their CoS is assigned may be below it after an update — typically fine for the current visa but matters at renewal.
Skill level change
If a worker''s duties drop in skill level over time (more administrative, less technical), the role may no longer meet the Skilled Worker skill requirements at renewal.
SOC 2026 transition
The Office for National Statistics is rolling out UK SOC 2026 to replace SOC 2020. The Home Office will eventually transition the Skilled Worker route. Watch for:
- Updated Appendix Skilled Occupations once SOC 2026 codes are adopted.
- New going rates for revised codes.
- Transition rules for existing sponsorships.
Timing as of 2026: SOC 2020 remains the operative version. SOC 2026 expected for Home Office adoption in 2027-2028.
What to do before assigning your next CoS
- Verify the role''s actual duties match the SOC code description — not just the title.
- Check the current going rate for the SOC code.
- Compare the salary you''re offering against both the going rate and the £38,700 floor.
- If you''re relying on tradeable points (new entrant, PhD), confirm the worker qualifies and the lower salary applies correctly.
- Document the duties match in writing — useful for any future audit.