UK National Shortage Occupation List
The list below constitutes the UK Shortage Occupation list relating to entry underTier 2 of the new five-tier system. Tier 2 replaced the UK Work Permit scheme on 27 November, 2008.
If the job is on the shortage occupation list then an employer can offer the job to an overseas person without having first fulfilled the Resident Labour Market Test by advertising the vacancy in the UK. The list is current at 14 November, 2011 but is subject to change at any time.
SOC stands for Standard Occupational Classification. The 4 digit code relates to a group of job titles. Specific job titles within this group which are included on the shortage occupation list are shown below.
UK List
| Related occupation title and SOC code | Job titles and skill levels included on the shortage occupation list (includes additional document-keeping requirements for Sponsors where relevant) | Minimum appropriate salary rate |
|---|---|---|
| Directors and chief executives of major organisations (1112) | the following jobs in the decommissioning and waste management areas of the nuclear industry: managing director, programme director, site director | £38.78 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Production, works and maintenance managers (1121) | project manager in the electricity transmission and distribution industry | £13.95 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Managers in mining and energy (1123) | site manager in the electricity transmission and distribution industry | £18.59 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Biological scientists and biochemists (2112) | cardiac physiologist, clinical neurophysiologist, clinical vascular scientist, respiratory physiologist, sleep physiologist A voluntary register for Sleep Physiologists (also known as Respiratory Physiologists) and Clinical Physiologists is held by the Registration Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP). If an individual is a member of the RCCP, the sponsor must retain evidence of their registration and provide it to UK Border Agency on Request. Sponsors must retain evidence of the individual's HPC registration and provide this to the UK Border Agency on request. (Registration may need to be done after the individual has entered the United Kingdom but must be done before starting work). | Non NHS: £13.88 per hour NHS: Posts at Agenda for Change band 5 or equivalent: £20,710 Posts at Agenda for Change band 6 or equivalent: £24,831 Posts at Agenda for Change band 7 or equivalent: £29,789 Posts at Agenda for Change band 8 or equivalent: £37,996 [Sources: NHS Agenda for Change April 2009, ASHE 2009] |
| Physicists, geologists and meteorologists (2113) | hydro geologist, geophysicist, geoscientist, geophysical specialist, engineering geophysicist, engineering geomorphologist, geologist, geochemist, environmental scientist, technical services manager in the decommissioning and waste areas of the nuclear industry, nuclear medicine scientist, radiotherapy physicist, staff working in diagnostic radiology (including magnetic resonance imaging) | £15.33 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Civil engineers (2121) | geotechnical design engineer, geotechnical specialist, reservoir panel engineer, rock mechanics engineer, soil mechanics engineer, geomechanics engineer, mining geotechnical engineer, mining and coal engineer, wells engineer, tunnelling engineer, petroleum engineer, drilling engineer, completions engineer, fluids engineer, reservoir engineer, offshore and subsea engineer, control and instrument engineer, process safety engineer | New graduate (1st year after graduation): £20,770 Civil engineers undertaking on the job training: £22,800 Participate in project work: £23,000 Project management: £35,000 Senior project management: £41,042 Civil engineering not project based: £39,000 Manager/Director: £54,000 Managing director/ Chief executive officer: £70,000 [Source: The Institution of Civil Engineers 2007 salary survey, based on a 40-hour week] |
| Mechanical engineers (2122) | mechanical engineer in the aerospace sector | New graduate: £23,000 [Source: Engineering UK 2009/10 Report] Other jobs in this occupation code: £14.52 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Electrical engineers (2123) | all electrical engineers in the oil and gas industry, the following jobs in the electricity transmission and distribution industry: power system engineer, control engineer, protection engineer | New graduate: £23,000 [Source: Engineering UK 2009/10 Report] Other jobs in this occupation code: £16.27 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Chemical engineers (2125) | ALL jobs in this occupation code | New Graduate: £25,400 Non-chartered chemical engineer: £26,500 Chartered chemical engineer: £36,000 [Source: Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)] |
| Design and development engineers (2126) | design engineer in the electricity transmission and distribution industry, simulation development engineer | £14.40 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Production and process engineers (2127) | manufacturing engineer (process planning) in the aerospace sector, technical services representative in the aerospace sector | £12.78 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Planning and quality control engineers (2128) | the following jobs in the electricity transmission and distribution industry: planning / development engineer, quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) engineer | New graduate: £23,000 [Source: Engineering UK 2009/10 Report] Other jobs in this occupation code: £12.62 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified (2129) |
| New graduate: £23,000 [Source: Engineering UK 2009/10 Report] Other jobs in this occupation code: £14.76 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Software professionals (2132) | the following jobs in visual effects and 2D / 3D computer animation for film, television or video games: software developer, systems engineer, shader writer | Software developer: £31,300 Systems engineer: £41,800 Shader Writer: £31,300 [Source: Salary Services IT Salary Survey January 2011, matched using job descriptions from Screen UK] |
| Medical practitioners (2211) |
| Foundation year 1 (F1): £21,391 Foundation year 2 (F2): £26,532 Pre-registration house officer: £21,391 House officer: £21,391 Senior house officer: £26,532 Speciality registrar (StR): £29,411 Senior registrar: £29,364 Staff grade practitioner: £32,547 Associate specialist: £35,977 Speciality Doctor: £36,443 Senior Chief Medical officer: £44,059 Consultant (new contract): £71,822 [Source: NHS Agenda for Change Pay circular (M&D) April 2009] |
| Secondary education teaching professionals (2314) | secondary education teachers in the subjects of maths or pure sciences (physics and / or chemistry) | Inner London Unqualified teacher: £19,007 Qualified teacher: £25,000 Head teacher, other school leader: £42,559 Outer London Unqualified teacher: £17,953 Qualified teacher: £24,000 Head teacher, other school leader: £38,634 London fringe Unqualified teacher: £16,106 Qualified teacher: £21,619 Head teacher, other school leader: £36,781 Elsewhere in England and Wales Unqualified teacher: £15,113 Qualified teacher: £20,627 Head teacher, other school leader: £35,794 Scotland Probationer: £20,427 Unpromoted teacher: £24,501 Chartered teacher: £33,588 Principal teacher: £35,523 Head teacher, deputy head teacher: £40,290 Northern Ireland Qualified teacher: £20,627 Leadership Group: £35,794 These salary rates are based the following definitions of a full time teacher: England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Full time teachers are expected to work 195 days a year (190 of these must be working with pupils). Scotland: Full time teachers are expected to work 35 hours a week, 195 days a year over 39 weeks, with 5 days for in-service training [Source: DCSF and devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland] |
| Special needs education teaching professionals (2316) | all teaching posts in special schools | Inner London Unqualified teacher: £19,007 Qualified teacher: £25,000 Head teacher, other school leader: £42,559 Outer London Unqualified teacher: £17,953 Qualified teacher: £24,000 Head teacher, other school leader: £38,634 London fringe Unqualified teacher: £16,106 Qualified teacher: £21,619 Head teacher, other school leader: £36,781 Elsewhere in England and Wales Unqualified teacher: £15,113 Qualified teacher: £20,627 Head teacher, other school leader: £35,794 Scotland Probationer: £20,427 Unpromoted teacher: £24,501 Chartered teacher: £33,588 Principal teacher: £35,523 Head teacher, deputy head teacher: £40,290 Northern Ireland Qualified teacher: £20,627 Leadership Group: £35,794 These salary rates are based the following definitions of a full time teacher: England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Full time teachers are expected to work 195 days a year (190 of these must be working with pupils). Scotland: Full time teachers are expected to work 35 hours a week, 195 days a year over 39 weeks, with 5 days for in-service training [Source: DCSF and devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland] |
| Management consultants, actuaries, economists and statisticians (2423) | qualified actuaries working in the life assurance, general insurance, and health and care sectors | £42,500 per year [Source: Salary survey of actuaries and actuarial students 2007: Remuneration Economics in association with The Actuarial Profession] |
| Social workers (2442) | social worker in children's and family services | Social worker entry level (band 5 or equivalent): £20,710 Social worker (band 6 or equivalent): £24,831 Social worker specialist or team manager (band 7 or equivalent): £29,789 [Source: NHS Agenda for Change April 2009] |
| Engineering Technicians (3113) | the following jobs in the electricity transmission and distribution industry: commissioning engineer, substation electrical engineer | £12.56 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Nurses (3211) | specialist nurse working in operating theatres, operating department practitioner, specialist nurse working in neonatal intensive care units Sponsors must retain evidence of the individual's provisional / full NMC registration and provide this to the UK Border Agency on request. Note: For supervised practice nurses, points will be awarded for the guaranteed annual salary that will be paid when the individual achieves NMC registration, provided he/she has a guaranteed job offer with the Sponsor on completion of the placement. If the individual has not achieved NMC registration after nine months, we may consider curtailing his/her leave. | Supervised practice nurse (band 3 or equivalent): £15,190 Qualified nurse (band 5 or equivalent): £20,710 Posts at agenda for change band 6 or equivalent: £24,831 Posts at agenda for change band 7 or equivalent: £29,789 Posts at agenda for change band 8 or equivalent: £39,996 [Source: NHS Agenda for Change April 2009] |
| Medical radiographers (3214) | HPC-registered diagnostic radiographer, HPC-registered therapeutic radiographer, sonographer Sponsors must retain evidence of the individual's HPC registration and provide this to the UK Border Agency on request. (Registration may need to be done after the individual has entered the United Kingdom but must be done before starting work). | Radiographer (therapeutic): £20,710 Radiographer (diagnostic): £20,710 Radiographer specialist (diagnostic therapeutic): £24,831 Radiographer advanced: £29,789 Radiographer specialist (reporting sonographer): £29,789 Radiographer team manager: £29,789 Radiographer principal: £37,996 Radiographer consultant (diagnostic): £44,258 [Source: NHS Agenda for Change April 2009] |
| Medical and dental technicians (3218) | nuclear medicine technologist, radiotherapy technologist | Posts at agenda for change band 5 or equivalent: £20,710 Posts at agenda for change band 6 or equivalent: £24,831 Posts at agenda for change band 7 or equivalent: £29,789 [Source: NHS Agenda for Change April 2009] |
| Artists (3411) | animator in visual effects and 2D / 3D computer animation for film, television or video games | Payment of animators should be commensurate with the relevant industry standards in the United Kingdom and at least at the level of appropriate rates as on the BECTU website. |
| Dancers and choreographers (3414) | skilled classical ballet dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised United Kingdom ballet companies (e.g.Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre, The Royal Ballet and Scottish Ballet). The company must either: have performed at or been invited to perform at venues of the calibre of the Royal Opera House, Sadler's Wells or Barbican, either in the United Kingdom or overseas; or attract dancers and/or choreographers and other artists from other countries; or be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a United Kingdom industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland and/or Wales) skilled contemporary dancers who meet the standard required by internationally recognised United Kingdom contemporary dance companies (e.g. Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, Scottish Dance Theatre and Rambert Dance Company). The company must either: have performed at or been invited to perform at venues of the calibre of Sadler's Wells, the Southbank Centre or The Place, either in the United Kingdom or overseas; or attract dancers and/or choreographers and other artists from all over the world; or be endorsed as being internationally recognised by a United Kingdom industry body such as the Arts Councils (of England, Scotland and/or Wales) | Payment of migrant dancers should be commensurate with industry standards. Agreed minimum salaries are set out in Equity's collective agreements, most of which are negotiated with ITC, SOLT and TMA. The current rates of pay can be found at: www.equity.org.uk; www.itc-arts.org; www.solt.co.uk; and www.tmauk.org. |
| Musicians (3415) | skilled orchestral musicians who meet the standard required by internationally recognised United Kingdom orchestras (e.g. London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) | Payment should be commensurate with industry standards, the salary should be at least at the level of appropriate UK rates in this sector as on the Musicians Union website. The salary must also meet National Minimum Wage regulations. |
| Arts officers, producers and directors (3416) | the following roles within visual effects and 2D / 3D computer animation for film, television or video games: 2D supervisor, 3D supervisor, computer graphics supervisor, producer, production manager, technical director, visual effects supervisor | Payment of Arts officers, producers and directors should be commensurate with the relevant industry standards in the United Kingdom and at least at the level of appropriate rates as on the relevant website from the following list: Broadcasting entertainment cinematograph and theatre union (BECTU) Equity Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) Production Guild |
| Graphic designers (3421) | the following roles within visual effects and 2D / 3D computer animation for film, television or video games: compositing artist, matte painter, modeller, rigger, stereo artist, texture artist | £9.79 per hour [Source: ASHE] Note: Migrants cannot be sponsored for jobs with salaries below £20,000 unless they are applying to extend leave granted under Tier 2 (General) or the work permit arrangements under the rules in place before 6 April 2011. |
| Buyers and purchasing officers (3541) | manufacturing engineer (purchasing) in the aerospace sector | £11.44 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Welding trades (5215) | high integrity pipe welder where the job requires three or more years relevant experience Sponsors must retain references from the individual's past employer(s) detailing three or more years' relevant experience and provide these to the UK Border Agency on request. Sponsors must also retain relevant evidence to enable them to justify the following: 1) - Why does the job require someone with at least five years' previous experience in a role of at least equivalent status? What elements of the job require this experience and why? 2) - Why could the job not be carried out to the required standard by someone with less experience? 3) - How would you expect a settled worker to gain this experience before being appointed to the post? | £11.91 per hour [Source: National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry 2007-2010] |
| Metal working production and maintenance fitters (5223) | licensed and military certifying engineer / inspector technician | £9.96 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Line repairers and cable jointers (5243) | overhead linesworker in the electricity transmission and distribution industry, working on high voltage lines that carry at least 275,000 volts | £12.33 per hour [Source: ASHE 2009] |
| Chefs, cooks (5434) | skilled chef where: the pay is at least £28,260 per year after deductions for accommodation, meals etc; and the job requires five or more years relevant experience in a role of at least equivalent status to the one they are entering; and the job is not in either a fast food outlet, a standard fare outlet, or an establishment which provides a take-away service; and the job is in one of the following roles: executive chef – limited to one per establishment, head chef – limited to one per establishment, sous chef – limited to one for every four kitchen staff per establishment, specialist chef – limited to one per speciality per establishment A fast food outlet is one where food is prepared in bulk for speed of service, rather than to individual order. A standard fare outlet is one where the menu is designed centrally for outlets in a chain / franchise, rather than by a chef or chefs in the individual restaurant. Standard fare outlets also include those where dishes and / or cooking sauces are bought in ready-made, rather than prepared from fresh / raw ingredients. Sponsors must retain references from the individual's past employer(s) detailing five or more years' relevant experience in a role of at least equivalent status and provide these to the UK Border Agency on request. Sponsors must also retain relevant evidence to enable them to justify the following: 1) - Why does the job require someone with at least five years' previous experience in a role of at least equivalent status? What elements of the job require this experience and why? 2) - Why could the job not be carried out to the required standard by someone with less experience? 3) - How would you expect a settled worker to gain this experience before being appointed to the post? | £28,260 per year after deductions for accommodation, meals etc. [Source: Migration Advisory Committee] Note: This salary cannot be pro-rated down for shorter working hours as it forms a key part of the shortage occupation criteria. Sponsors must retain pay records confirming that the individual is earning the appropriate skilled salary and provide these to the UK Border Agency on request. |
