Human resource managers and directors (SOC 1136, also written as job code 1136) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £52,900 per year. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
Not sure if SOC 1136 applies to your situation?
The answer above is the general rule. Your case can be different if you already hold a visa and are extending or switching, if you were sponsored before a rule change, or depending on your salary. Our AI assistant can explain the full rules from gov.uk guidance.
Ask AI about SOC 1136Human resource managers and directors plan, organise and direct the personnel, training and industrial relations policies of organisations, advise on resource allocation and utilisation problems, measure the effectiveness of an organisation’s systems, methods and procedures and advise on, plan and implement procedures to improve utilisation of labour, equipment and materials.
There are no pre-set entry standards, although entry is most common with a degree or equivalent qualification. Relevant experience is important and internal promotion to management is possible. Off and on-the-job training is provided, and professional qualifications are available. Apprenticeships are available. NVQs/SVQs in relevant subjects are available at levels 3, 4 and 5.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
Plus ~£6,415 in bonus & commission
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most human resource managers and directors in the UK earn between £44,564 and £77,220 in basic pay, with experienced professionals in the top 10% earning above £98,800. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £52,900 (SOC 1136), sitting at the 40th percentile of what UK employers pay and £5,912 below the median.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
Comparing with an offer back home? Try the UK vs home country calculator.
Browse our register of UK companies with an active sponsor licence. Filter by industry, size, sponsor rating, and whether they're currently hiring human resource 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 1136 (£52,900) 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 £37,100 per year for up to 4 years.
Continuously sponsored as a Skilled Worker since before 4 April 2024? Lower thresholds apply: £41,200 standard, or £28,800 as a new entrant.
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (113xx):
Yes. Human resource managers and directors roles fall under SOC 1136 (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.
Job code 1136, SOC code 1136 and occupation code 1136 all refer to the same thing: the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) unit group covering human resource managers and directors. The Home Office uses this 4-digit code on a Certificate of Sponsorship to check Skilled Worker visa eligibility and to set the going rate salary threshold for the role.
The going rate for Human resource managers and directors (SOC 1136) is £52,900 (£27.13 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 1136 covers a range of human resource managers and directors roles, including: Employee relations managers, Equality, diversity and inclusion managers, Learning and development managers and directors, Recruitment managers and directors, Human resources 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, a PhD student, or switching from a Student or Graduate visa, you count as a "new entrant". For Human resource managers and directors (SOC 1136) the new entrant minimum is £37,100 per year, based on the Home Office's published lower going rate and the £33,400 new entrant threshold. The discount lasts up to 4 years in total.
We list Human resource 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.