RQF Level 6 Jobs List 2026: 200+ UK Eligible Occupations by SOC Code

The UK Skilled Worker visa requires a job at RQF Level 6 or above — the equivalent of a UK bachelor’s degree skill level. Since 22 July 2025, this has been the minimum threshold for new sponsorship applications. Roughly 200+ occupations qualify, each identified by a 4-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code in the Home Office’s Appendix Skilled Occupations. A small number of sub-RQF-6 roles remain temporarily eligible through the Temporary Shortage List (TSL), which is currently scheduled to expire on 31 December 2026.

This guide is the definitive 2026 list. It groups every eligible occupation by sector, gives you the SOC code, the RQF level, and an illustrative going rate so you can sanity-check a job offer, a Certificate of Sponsorship, or a job advert in seconds. All figures are accurate as of April 2026 and should always be cross-checked against gov.uk before you submit a visa application.

What does RQF Level 6 mean for UK visa sponsorship?

RQF stands for the Regulated Qualifications Framework, the official system used in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to compare the difficulty and depth of qualifications. Level 6 sits at the top of the “higher education” band and corresponds to a bachelor’s degree with honours, a graduate diploma, or a graduate certificate.

For Skilled Worker visa purposes, the Home Office uses RQF as a shorthand for the typical skill level of an occupation, not the qualifications of the individual worker. From 22 July 2025, the threshold was raised from RQF 3 (A-level equivalent) back up to RQF 6, reversing the 2020 reduction that had been introduced after Brexit. The change closed sponsorship to most mid-skill care, hospitality and retail roles, and refocused the Skilled Worker route on graduate-level occupations.

In practice, that means: if your occupation does not appear on the RQF 6+ list inside Appendix Skilled Occupations, and it is not on the Temporary Shortage List, the role cannot be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa in 2026.

How is RQF Level 6 determined for a job?

The RQF level attached to an occupation is decided by the Home Office and the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), based on the typical entry requirement for that role across the UK labour market. It is not based on the qualifications a particular worker happens to hold.

This is an important distinction. A self-taught software developer with five years of production experience but no degree can still be sponsored into a SOC 2134 software engineer role, because the role itself is at RQF 6. The Home Office and most sponsors will accept a combination of equivalent experience, certifications and a strong job offer in lieu of a formal degree, provided the core duties match the SOC code.

Conversely, a worker with a PhD applying for a barista role cannot use that degree to push the barista job into RQF 6. The role’s skill level is fixed by the SOC code, not by the candidate.

What’s the difference between RQF Level 3, 4, 5, and 6?

The full RQF runs from Entry Level up to Level 8 (doctorate). The four levels that matter most for the Skilled Worker debate are 3 to 6.

RQF Level	Typical qualification	Indicative role examples	Skilled Worker eligible?
Level 3	A-levels, T-levels, Advanced Apprenticeship	Care worker, retail supervisor, junior chef	No (closed July 2025)
Level 4	Higher National Certificate (HNC), Certificate of Higher Education	Engineering technician, IT support technician	Only via the Temporary Shortage List, until 31 Dec 2026
Level 5	Higher National Diploma (HND), Foundation Degree	Paralegal, junior data analyst	Only via the Temporary Shortage List, until 31 Dec 2026
Level 6	Bachelor’s degree with honours, graduate diploma	Software engineer, registered nurse, accountant, secondary school teacher	Yes — the standard threshold
Level 7	Master’s degree, postgraduate diploma	Specialist medical practitioner, senior data scientist	Yes

For the salary side of the same threshold change, see the companion piece UK visa sponsorship salary thresholds 2026.

Which UK jobs are at RQF Level 6 or above?

The lists below cover the most commonly sponsored RQF 6+ occupations across the major sectors of the UK economy. Each row gives the role title, its 4-digit SOC code, the RQF level, and an illustrative annual going rate as of April 2026. Going rates are updated annually and the figure that legally applies to a Certificate of Sponsorship is always the one published in Appendix Skilled Occupations on gov.uk on the date the CoS is assigned.

Note: figures are illustrative as of April 2026 and round to the nearest hundred. Always verify the going rate for your specific SOC code on gov.uk before submitting a visa application.

Tech & engineering roles at RQF Level 6+

Role	SOC code	RQF	Going rate (annual)
Software developer / engineer	2134	6	£49,400
Programmer	2134	6	£49,400
Cybersecurity analyst	2139	6	£46,200
Web designer	2137	6	£38,800
IT business analyst, architect, systems designer	2135	6	£48,500
IT specialist manager	2136	6	£52,800
Data scientist	2425	6	£52,500
Statistician	2425	6	£48,300
Mechanical engineer	2122	6	£42,400
Civil engineer	2121	6	£43,800
Electrical engineer	2123	6	£44,000
Electronics engineer	2124	6	£43,500
Chemical engineer	2129	6	£46,700
Aeronautical engineer	2123	6	£46,500
Quality and regulatory professional	2462	6	£42,300
Architect	2431	6	£42,000
Architectural / town planning technician	3121	6	£33,900
Quantity surveyor	2433	6	£42,500
Building / civil engineering technician	3122	6	£34,800
Construction project manager	2436	6	£48,300
Production manager (manufacturing)	1121	6	£47,300
Environmental health professional	2456	6	£38,600

Healthcare roles at RQF Level 6+

Role	SOC code	RQF	Going rate (annual)
Doctor / medical practitioner	2211	7	£38,200–£58,400
Surgeon	2211	7	£58,400+
Specialist medical practitioner	2212	7	£55,300
Pharmacist	2213	6	£46,300
Optometrist	2214	6	£36,200
Dental practitioner	2215	6	£42,300
Veterinarian	2216	6	£36,400
Registered nurse (general)	2231	6	£31,300
Midwife	2232	6	£33,600
Physiotherapist	2221	6	£31,500
Occupational therapist	2222	6	£31,500
Speech and language therapist	2226	6	£31,500
Diagnostic / therapeutic radiographer	2217	6	£31,300
Paramedic	3213	6	£31,300
Psychologist	2461	7	£39,400
Clinical scientist	2462	6	£38,000

Finance & business roles at RQF Level 6+

Role	SOC code	RQF	Going rate (annual)
Accountant / chartered accountant	2421	6	£42,300
Management consultant	2424	6	£48,400
Financial manager / director	1131	6	£52,500
Marketing manager	1132	6	£47,800
HR manager	1135	6	£46,200
Risk manager	1135	6	£48,300
Operations manager	1139	6	£48,500
Tax adviser	2422	6	£42,300
Actuary	2433	6	£52,500
Financial / investment adviser	3534	6	£38,200
Business / financial analyst	2425	6	£46,200
Business sales executive (RQF 6 only)	3545	6	£38,200
Insurance underwriter	3531	6	£38,200

Education roles at RQF Level 6+

Role	SOC code	RQF	Going rate (annual)
Secondary school teacher	2314	6	£33,200
Secondary school teacher (shortage subjects: maths, physics, computer science, MFL)	2314	6	£33,200 (uplifted retention rates apply)
Primary school teacher	2315	6	£31,300
Special educational needs teacher	2316	6	£33,200
Further education teacher	2312	6	£33,200
Higher education / university lecturer	2311	7	£42,300

Legal roles at RQF Level 6+

Role	SOC code	RQF	Going rate (annual)
Solicitor	2412	6	£48,400
Barrister / advocate	2411	7	£48,400
Legal associate professional	2419	6	£38,300
Judge / chartered legal executive	2419	6	£48,400

Creative & media roles at RQF Level 6+

Role	SOC code	RQF	Going rate (annual)
Graphic designer	3421	6	£33,200
Product / clothing designer	3422	6	£33,200
Newspaper / periodical editor	2491	6	£38,200
Journalist / newspaper or periodical reporter	2492	6	£33,400
Programme producer / film director	3416	6	£38,200
Actor / entertainer	3411	6	£30,000
Author / writer	3412	6	£33,200
Translator / interpreter (sworn)	3415	6	£33,200
Photographer / audio-visual technician (specialist)	3417	6	£33,200

Science & research roles at RQF Level 6+

Role	SOC code	RQF	Going rate (annual)
Biological scientist / biochemist	2114	6	£36,300
Physical scientist (chemist, physicist)	2113	6	£36,300
Research scientist	2113–2114	7	£38,200
Conservation professional	2143	6	£33,200
Geologist / geophysicist	2114	6	£36,300
Meteorologist	2113	6	£38,200

Public sector & social roles at RQF Level 6+

Role	SOC code	RQF	Going rate (annual)
Probation officer	2453	6	£38,200
Social worker	2452	6	£33,200
Town planning professional	2433	6	£38,200
Higher administrator / civil service grade 7+	1115	6	£48,400
Police officer (inspector and above)	1172	6	£48,400

This is a representative selection of around 70 of the most-searched RQF 6+ roles. The full Appendix Skilled Occupations table on gov.uk lists every eligible 4-digit SOC code, including specialist niches not captured above. Always confirm the SOC code on a Certificate of Sponsorship matches the official entry before relying on it.

Working in tech specifically? See the focused breakdown in UK tech jobs with visa sponsorship 2026 for a sponsor-by-sponsor view of who is actively hiring.

Are any sub-RQF-6 jobs still eligible for sponsorship?

Yes — but only via the Temporary Shortage List (TSL), an interim mechanism the Home Office introduced to soften the impact of the July 2025 threshold change. Roles on the TSL sit at RQF 3 to 5 and are eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship until 31 December 2026 unless the Migration Advisory Committee recommends an extension.

Workers sponsored into a TSL role face two important restrictions: they cannot bring dependants (partner or children) into the UK, and they cannot use the role as a route to settlement on the same terms as standard RQF 6 sponsorship. The TSL is designed as a stop-gap, not a permanent route.

TSL role	SOC code	RQF	Eligibility window
Engineering technicians	3113	5	Until 31 Dec 2026
IT operations technicians	3132	5	Until 31 Dec 2026
Electricians	5241	3	Until 31 Dec 2026
Plumbers and heating engineers	5314	3	Until 31 Dec 2026
Welders	5215	3	Until 31 Dec 2026
Vehicle technicians	5231	3	Until 31 Dec 2026
Laboratory technicians	3111	5	Until 31 Dec 2026
Translators (non-sworn)	3415	5	Until 31 Dec 2026 (sworn translators sit at RQF 6 separately)

If you are already on a Skilled Worker visa for a TSL role, your visa terms continue to apply for the duration granted, but extensions and switches after the TSL expires will need to find an RQF 6+ home in the standard list.

What’s the salary threshold for RQF Level 6 jobs?

For most new applications submitted in April 2026, the general salary threshold is £41,700 per year, alongside the role’s SOC-specific going rate. The visa is granted on the higher of the two figures. Where the going rate published in Appendix Skilled Occupations is above £41,700 (which it is for most graduate-level engineering, finance and senior manager roles), the going rate becomes the binding number.

Discounts apply in defined situations: new entrants under 26, recent graduates, PhD-holders in relevant fields, certain shortage occupations, and STEM PhDs benefit from reduced thresholds — but never below the protective floor.

For role-by-role salary numbers, see UK Skilled Worker visa salary threshold by role 2026. For the broader picture across all sponsored visa categories, see UK visa sponsorship salary thresholds 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a bachelor’s degree to apply for an RQF Level 6 job under the Skilled Worker visa?

No. The RQF 6 threshold applies to the job, not the worker. If your role’s SOC code is at RQF 6 or above, you can be sponsored even without a degree, provided you have the right experience and skills for the position. The Home Office accepts equivalent experience, professional certifications and on-the-job training in lieu of a formal degree, particularly in tech and engineering.

What if my role is at RQF Level 5 or below?

If your occupation sits below RQF 6 and is not on the Temporary Shortage List, it cannot be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa in 2026. You would need to find a different role at RQF 6+, look at alternative visa categories such as the Health and Care Worker visa (if eligible), the Global Talent route, or the Graduate visa if you have studied in the UK.

Can experience replace a degree for RQF Level 6?

Yes, frequently. Many sponsors will accept five or more years of relevant professional experience, plus industry certifications, as evidence that a candidate can perform a role at RQF 6 standard. Tech roles such as software engineer (SOC 2134) and cybersecurity analyst (SOC 2139) are routinely filled by self-taught or bootcamp-trained workers without a bachelor’s degree.

Where can I check the official RQF Level for a specific job?

The authoritative source is the Home Office’s Appendix Skilled Occupations, published as part of the Immigration Rules on gov.uk. The appendix lists every eligible 4-digit SOC code with its RQF level and going rate. The Office for National Statistics also publishes the underlying SOC 2020 classification, which the appendix references.

How often does the RQF Level 6 list change?

The going-rate figures inside Appendix Skilled Occupations are normally updated each spring (April), based on the latest Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. The list of eligible occupations themselves changes less often — major rewrites typically follow Migration Advisory Committee reviews. The next scheduled review of the Temporary Shortage List is due before the 31 December 2026 expiry date.

Quick checklist before you apply

• Confirm the role’s 4-digit SOC code in the job offer matches one in Appendix Skilled Occupations at RQF 6+.
• Check the going rate published for that SOC code on the date your Certificate of Sponsorship will be assigned.
• Confirm the salary on offer is at or above the higher of £41,700 (general threshold) and the SOC-specific going rate.
• If the role is on the Temporary Shortage List, plan around the 31 December 2026 expiry and the no-dependants restriction.
• Ask your sponsor for the SOC code on the CoS in writing before you submit the visa application.

Looking for an RQF 6+ job from a verified UK licensed sponsor? Search Tarve — every job listed comes from a Home Office sponsor licence holder, with the SOC code surfaced on the listing so you can verify eligibility at a glance.