SOC Code Lookup for Skilled Worker Visa

Search SOC 2020 codes for the Skilled Worker visa: going rate, RQF skill level, Immigration Salary List status and whether the role meets sponsorship eligibility.

Wesbridge Associates is an IAA-regulated UK immigration law firm. Our advisers support individuals, families and UK sponsors with skilled worker visas, sponsor licences, family routes, settlement (ILR), British citizenship, appeals and compliance — combining experienced legal advice with AI-powered self-service tools.

The Wesbridge Associates SOC code lookup helps candidates, HR teams and sponsors identify the correct SOC 2020 (Standard Occupational Classification) code for a UK role. The code determines whether a job is eligible for sponsorship, which going rate applies, and whether the role sits at RQF level 3 or above as required by the Skilled Worker route. Search by job title, keyword or four-digit code and see the going rate, skill level and eligible visa routes at a glance.

What SOC codes are

SOC 2020 is the Office for National Statistics classification of occupations used by the Home Office to define Skilled Worker eligibility. Every sponsored role must be mapped to a single four-digit SOC code that genuinely reflects the day-to-day duties. Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules lists every eligible code with its RQF level and hourly and annual going rates. Codes outside this list cannot be sponsored on the standard Skilled Worker route.

How the lookup works

Enter a job title (e.g. 'software developer', 'care worker', 'chef') or a code. The tool searches the official ONS titles and the Appendix Skilled Occupations table, then returns matching codes with their annual and hourly going rate, RQF skill level, eligibility for the standard Skilled Worker route, the Health and Care Worker route where relevant, and any Immigration Salary List discount that still applies under transitional rules.

Why the correct code matters

Choosing the wrong SOC code is one of the top reasons Skilled Worker Certificates of Sponsorship are refused, revoked or trigger sponsor compliance action. If the duties do not credibly match the chosen code, the Home Office can refuse the visa, revoke the sponsor licence and cool the employer off from further sponsorship. The code also drives the going rate — pick too low a code and the salary can look artificially compliant; pick too high a code and the salary genuinely fails the going rate.

SOC 2020 vs SOC 2010

The Home Office moved from SOC 2010 to SOC 2020 for immigration purposes in November 2023. Older job specs, CoS templates and salary benchmarks based on SOC 2010 codes may map to a different four-digit code, a different RQF level or a different going rate under SOC 2020. Always verify against the current 2020 codes before assigning a CoS.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sponsor a role that is not on the eligible SOC list?

Not under the standard Skilled Worker route. You may be able to use the Global Business Mobility, Scale-up, Temporary Worker or Health and Care Worker routes where the eligible occupation lists are different. Take advice before assigning a CoS for a borderline role.

What if the job spans two SOC codes?

Pick the code that best matches the majority of duties and the skill level at which they are performed. Document the reasoning on file — sponsor compliance officers will ask about it during any audit.

Is the going rate the salary I must pay?

The salary must be at least the higher of the general salary threshold for the route and the SOC-specific going rate (pro-rated for hours actually worked, capped at a 48-hour week for going-rate purposes). Paying below either figure triggers refusal.

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