Managers in transport and distribution SOC 1241
Managers in transport and distribution (SOC 1241, also written as job code 1241) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £44,900 per year. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
Not sure if SOC 1241 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 1241What does a managers in transport and distribution do?
Managers in transport and distribution plan, organise, and co-ordinate the activities and resources necessary for the safe, efficient and economic movement of passengers and freight by road, rail, sea and air transport.
Typical tasks
- plans the optimum utilisation of staff and operating equipment, and co-ordinates maintenance activities to ensure least possible disruption to services
- co-ordinates the transportation of passengers, the movement, handling and storage of freight in transit, and reviews space utilisation, staffing and distribution expenditure to determine future distribution policies
- ensures that regulations regarding hours of work, the licensing of crews and transport equipment, the operational safety and efficiency of equipment, the insurance of vehicles and other statutory regulations are complied with
- ensures that harbour channels and berths are maintained and liaises with ship owners, crew, customs officials, dock and harbour staff to arrange entry, berthing and servicing of ships
- supervises day-to-day activities in a railway station
- arranges for maintenance of airport runways and buildings, liaises with fuel and catering crews to ensure adequate supplies and resolves any complaints and problems raised by airport users
Typical entry routes and qualifications
Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications and/or with relevant experience. Entrants to management trainee schemes offered by larger companies will require GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades, a degree or other equivalent qualifications. Off and on-the-job training is provided. Professional qualifications are available and may be required for some roles. NVQs/SVQs in a number of relevant areas including supply chain and operations management are available at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What managers in transport and distribution earn in the UK
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most managers in transport and distribution in the UK earn between £37,908 and £57,512 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £44,900 (SOC 1241), sitting at the 47th percentile of what UK employers pay and £964 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.
How to get sponsored as a managers in transport and distribution
- 1
Find a licensed sponsor on Hunt UK Visa Sponsors
Browse our register of UK companies with an active sponsor licence. Filter by industry, size, sponsor rating, and whether they're currently hiring managers in transport and distribution, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsors - 2
Confirm the salary meets the £44,900 going rate
Your employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 1241 (£44,900) 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.
- 3
Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship
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.
- 4
Apply for a Skilled Worker visa at gov.uk
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.uk - 5
Move to the UK and start work
Travel to the UK before your CoS start date and begin working for the sponsor named on the certificate.
New entrant & discount rates
If you're under 26, switching from a Student visa, or a recent UK graduate, your employer can pay the new entrant rate of £33,400 per year for up to 4 years.
Continuously sponsored as a Skilled Worker since before 4 April 2024? Lower thresholds apply: £35,200 standard, or £25,000 as a new entrant.
Roles under SOC 1241
Recent jobs under SOC 1241
Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (124xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can managers in transport and distribution get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Managers in transport and distribution roles fall under SOC 1241 (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.
What is job code 1241?
Job code 1241, SOC code 1241 and occupation code 1241 all refer to the same thing: the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) unit group covering managers in transport and distribution. 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.
What salary do managers in transport and distribution need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Managers in transport and distribution (SOC 1241) is £44,900 (£23.03 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.
What job titles are covered by SOC 1241?
SOC 1241 covers a range of managers in transport and distribution roles, including: Airport managers, Depot and fleet managers, Dispatch and distribution managers, Harbour and port managers, Road traffic managers, Managers in transport and distribution 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.
Is there a lower salary for new graduates entering managers in transport and distribution roles?
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 Managers in transport and distribution (SOC 1241) the new entrant minimum is £33,400 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.
Where can I find managers in transport and distribution jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Managers in transport and distribution 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.