SOC 1255 — Managers and directors in the creative industries: Skilled Worker going rate 2026
The Skilled Worker going rate for SOC 1255 (Managers and directors in the creative industries) is £44,900 per year (£23.03 per hour) as of 8 April 2026. To qualify for a visa in this occupation you must be paid the higher of the £41,700 general threshold or this going rate — £44,900 per year — unless a published exception applies. (Tarve analysis of gov.uk Immigration Rules data.)
| Standard going rate (annual) | £44,900 |
| Hourly equivalent (37.5h week) | £23.03/hour |
| General salary threshold | £41,700 (pay the higher of the two) |
| Minimum you must be paid | £44,900/year |
| Immigration Salary List | Not listed |
| Hourly floor (all roles) | £17.13/hour |
Frequently asked questions
What is the going rate for SOC 1255 (Managers and directors in the creative industries)?
The standard going rate for SOC 1255, Managers and directors in the creative industries, is £44,900 per year (£23.03 per hour, based on a 37.5-hour week), effective from 8 April 2026. Source: gov.uk Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Occupations.
What salary do I need for a Skilled Worker visa in this occupation?
You must be paid the higher of the general salary threshold (£41,700 per year) or the occupation's going rate of £44,900. For SOC 1255 that means at least £44,900 per year, unless a published exception (for example new entrant or Immigration Salary List rules) applies to your case.
Is Managers and directors in the creative industries on the Immigration Salary List?
No. SOC 1255 (Managers and directors in the creative industries) is not on the Immigration Salary List, so the standard salary rules apply: the higher of £41,700 or the £44,900 going rate.
How is the hourly going rate calculated?
Going rates are published on a 37.5-hour-per-week basis. For SOC 1255 the annual rate of £44,900 corresponds to £23.03 per hour. A minimum hourly floor of £17.13 applies across Skilled Worker roles regardless of working pattern.
Hiring or job-hunting in managers and directors in the creative industries?
Every job on Tarve comes from an employer verified against the Home Office sponsor register.
See live sponsored jobsDeep dives: going rates explained · salary thresholds 2026 · Immigration Salary List · all SOC codes
Source & verification
Figures are taken verbatim from the gov.uk Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Occupations and were verified on 3 July 2026. Tarve is an independent information service, not a regulated immigration adviser — always confirm the current rules on gov.uk before acting.