If you’ve ever dreamed of building a secure future in the UK, now might be your moment. Skilled worker jobs in the UK offer a stable income of £11.79–£22.99 per hour (around £41,700+ a year), with most roles requiring just 1–2 years of experience.
Depending on your field, you can find both on-site and hybrid opportunities, ranging from healthcare and IT to engineering, hospitality, and skilled trades.
Whether you’re looking for a hands-on role or a desk-based career, the Skilled Worker (Tier 2) visa opens doors to a stable life and a long-term home in the UK.
Key Points:
- Job Country: UK
- Visa Type: Skilled Work Visa/Tier 2 Visa
- Stay Duration: 5 Years, renewable
- Salary Range: 10-22 pounds an hour.
Educational and Skill Level Requirements:
The skill threshold for most Skilled Worker visa roles has been raised from RQF Level 3 (equivalent to A-levels) to RQF Level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree).
This means that the job you are being sponsored for must be at a skill level that is at least equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree. This does not mean you must personally hold a degree, but rather that your skills and the job role itself meet this standard.
However, there are exceptions:
- Immigration Salary List (ISL): Some jobs that are below RQF Level 6 may still be eligible if they are on the Immigration Salary List. These roles often have additional criteria regarding experience, salary, and where the job is located.
- Health and Social Care: Jobs in the health and care sectors may have different requirements. For example, care workers and senior care workers have a different set of rules and may not be required to meet the higher RQF Level 6 standard.
Experience Requirements:
The UK government’s focus is on the skill level of the job, but practical experience is a key part of demonstrating that you meet this skill level. The amount of experience required varies greatly by occupation.
- General Rule: For many skilled jobs, a relevant diploma or bachelor’s degree is a good starting point, and experience can range from 0 to 2 years. Your employer must be able to prove that you have the skills to perform the job.
- Trades: For skilled trades, such as bakers, carpenters, welders, and other trades on the shortage list, 2 years of relevant experience is often a key requirement to demonstrate proficiency.
- Care Workers: For roles like care workers or senior care workers, 2 years of experience is typically required.
- Lower-Skilled Roles: The provided information mentions that some lower-skilled roles like support workers or charity workers may not require experience. However, since the skill level for most jobs on the Skilled Worker visa list is now RQF Level 6, many of these roles may no longer be eligible unless they fall under specific shortage lists or transitional arrangements.
Check Also: UK Skilled Worker Dependant Visa
General Requirements:
1. Job Offer from a UK-Approved Employer
You must have a genuine job offer from a UK employer who holds a valid Sponsor License. The employer must be on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors.
2. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
After you have a job offer, your employer must assign you a unique electronic reference number called a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This is not a physical document but an electronic record that holds information about your job, salary, and the company. You must use this reference number to apply for your visa within three months of its issuance.
3. Eligible Occupation
The job you are being sponsored for must be in an eligible occupation. This means it must be listed in the UK’s Immigration Salary List (ISL) or meet the general skill and salary thresholds. The job must be skilled to at least RQF Level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree).
4. Minimum Salary
This is a critical requirement that has seen significant changes. You must be paid a salary that is the highest of the following three options:
- £41,700 per year (the new general salary threshold).
- The “going rate” for your specific job’s occupation code.
- £17.13 per hour.
Benefits:
1. Pathway to Permanent Residency
This is one of the most significant benefits. After holding a Skilled Worker visa for five years, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which is also known as “settlement.” ILR gives you the right to live, work, and study in the UK without any time restrictions or visa conditions. After one year of having ILR, you can then apply for British citizenship.
2. Competitive Salary and Job Security
The UK Skilled Worker visa has a minimum salary threshold, which ensures you will be paid a fair and competitive wage. The general salary threshold is £41,700 per year, or the “going rate” for your job, whichever is higher. This provides a level of financial stability and security.
3. Dependents Can Join You
The Skilled Worker visa allows you to bring your eligible family members, known as “dependents,” with you to the UK. This includes your:
- Husband, wife, or civil partner.
- Unmarried partner (if you have been living together in a genuine relationship for at least two years).
- Children under the age of 18.
- Children over 18 if they are currently in the UK as your dependent.
Your dependents can also work and study in the UK, which makes it a great option for families.
4. Access to the National Health Service (NHS)
As a Skilled Worker visa holder and a resident of the UK for more than six months, you are entitled to free access to the National Health Service (NHS). You must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of your visa application, which is a lump sum covering your visa duration. The IHS costs £1,035 per year for most applicants. Once paid, you and your family can use NHS services on the same basis as a permanent UK resident.
5. Flexibility and Career Growth
The Skilled Worker visa is granted for up to five years initially, but it can be extended for an unlimited period, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria. It also offers a degree of flexibility:
- Switching Employers: You can change jobs if your new employer is a licensed sponsor and provides you with a new Certificate of Sponsorship. You will need to make a new visa application for this change.
- Supplementary Employment: You are allowed to work a second job for up to 20 hours a week, as long as it is in a similar occupation to your primary role or is on the Immigration Salary List.
- Study: You are permitted to study in the UK while on a Skilled Worker visa.
Average Salary:
Because the compensation estimates rely on your education, experience, employer’s policy, and other factors, it is a pretty broad question. Nonetheless, the typical pay range is between £11.79 and £22.99 per hour.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants from all nationalities, like Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Ghana, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ghana, Cameroon, Trinidad, Tobago, etc. You can be of any nationality.
How to Find a Skilled Worker Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship?
It might be a complicated process to get a skilled worker job in the UK with a sponsored visa, but there are a number of useful tools and tactics you can employ. The secret is to look for companies that have the right to sponsor foreign workers and make sure that the position and your qualifications match UK immigration laws.
1. The UK Government’s Official Register
This is the most important and trustworthy source. You can verify whether a company has a current sponsor license before applying for a position. This will guarantee that you are applying to a genuine opportunity and save you time.
- How to Access: The “Register of Licensed Sponsors” is a live, frequently updated list published by the UK Home Office on the www.gov.uk website.
- What It Contains:The registration is a sizable spreadsheet that may be downloaded as a CSV file. Every company authorized to sponsor foreign workers is included, along with their location and the kind of visa they are able to sponsor (e.g., Temporary Worker, Skilled Worker, etc.). To locate possible employers, you can search this list by city, firm name, or kind of visa.
2. Online Job Boards
There are filters or dedicated areas on a lot of popular employment websites for positions that sponsor visas. It’s important to choose appropriate search phrases.
- Indeed, UK, Reed.co.uk, and Glassdoor: when looking for a career, these platforms are great. In your job title or keyword search, include phrases like “sponsorship available,” “skilled worker visa,” or “visa sponsorship.” Additionally, you can filter results by industry, salary, and region.
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is useful for professional networking as well as job searching. Using the “visa sponsorship” criteria, you can locate employment. To be informed about job openings and connect with potential contacts, you can also follow UK-based businesses, recruiters, and experts in your sector.
3. Specialized Recruitment Agencies
Some hiring firms focus on bringing in foreign workers to the UK, especially in industries with high demand including hospitality, IT, and healthcare. They already have a network of sponsor-licensed employers, so they can be a fantastic resource.
- Sector-Specific Agencies: Nouveau Care, for instance, is a company that hires carers, and many other agencies of a similar nature concentrate on particular industries. Seek out companies that have knowledge of both the UK’s points-based immigration system and overseas hiring.
Conclusion:
The UK Skilled Worker (Tier 2) visa offers a clear, reliable path to live, work, and settle permanently in the UK. With fair pay, family benefits, and access to healthcare, it’s more than a job—it’s a new beginning. Secure a sponsored role, meet the requirements, and build your future in one of the world’s most opportunity-rich countries.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the minimum salary for a UK Skilled Worker visa
The general minimum salary for a Skilled Worker visa is the highest of three options: £41,700 per year, £17.13 per hour, or the “going rate” for your specific job’s occupation code.
What is the educational skill level required?
The job you are being sponsored for must be at RQF Level 6, which is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree. Although a degree is not a requirement for the position, it is a requirement for the abilities you possess. There are several exclusions for positions on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) or in particular industries, such as social services and health care.
