Purchasing managers and directors (SOC 1134) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £54,700 per year. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
Purchasing managers and directors (not retail) plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the purchasing functions of industrial, commercial, government organisations and public agencies to ensure cost-effectiveness.
Although not restricted to a particular qualification, entry is most common with a degree or equivalent qualification but is also possible with A levels/H grades, a BTEC/SQA award, S/NVQs at level 3 or above, or an apprenticeship. Off and on-the-job training is provided, and professional qualifications are available. Chartered status may also be achieved.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most purchasing managers and directors in the UK earn between £45,604 and £78,624 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £54,700 (SOC 1134), sitting at the 41st percentile of what UK employers pay and £5,100 below the median.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
Browse our register of UK companies with an active sponsor licence. Filter by industry, size, sponsor rating, and whether they're currently hiring purchasing managers and directors, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsorsYour employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 1134 (£54,700) or the general Skilled Worker threshold of £41,700 per year.
New entrants and ISL roles may qualify for a lower rate. See the New entrant & discount rates section below.
Your sponsor issues a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), a reference number the Home Office uses to check the job offer, salary, and duties line up with an eligible SOC code.
Submit the Skilled Worker visa application online within 3 months of your CoS assignment date. You'll also book a biometric appointment and pay the immigration health surcharge.
Apply on gov.ukTravel to the UK before your CoS start date and begin working for the sponsor named on the certificate.
If you're under 26, switching from a Student visa, or a recent UK graduate, your employer can pay the new entrant rate of £42,500 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (113xx):
Yes. Purchasing managers and directors roles fall under SOC 1134 (Higher Skilled), so they qualify for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer will need a sponsor licence and must pay at least the going rate for this occupation.
The going rate for Purchasing managers and directors (SOC 1134) is £54,700 (£28.05 per hour). Occupation rate applies. Your employer must pay whichever is higher: this going rate or the general Skilled Worker threshold of £41,700 per year.
SOC 1134 covers a range of purchasing managers and directors roles, including: Estimating managers and directors, Procurement and purchasing managers and directors, Purchasing managers and directors not elsewhere classified.. Keep in mind that the Home Office matches jobs by duties rather than title alone. Two roles with the same title can fall under different SOC codes depending on the actual work involved.
Yes. If you're under 26, a recent graduate, or switching from a Student visa, you count as a "new entrant" and your employer only needs to pay 70% of the going rate (with an absolute floor of £33,400/year — the new-entrant minimum cannot go below that). For Purchasing managers and directors, that works out to £42,500. The discount lasts up to four years.
We list Purchasing managers and directors roles from companies with a Home Office sponsor licence. Scroll down to see what's currently open, or search our full jobs database for more visa-sponsored positions across the UK.
This information is provided as guidance only and should not be treated as legal advice. Eligibility criteria and salary thresholds are based on the latest published government data. Always verify with the official UK government guidance or seek professional immigration advice.