Civil engineers SOC 2121
Civil engineers (SOC 2121) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £50,400 per year. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
What does a civil engineer do?
Civil engineers undertake research and design, direct construction and manage the operation and maintenance of civil and mining engineering structures.
Typical tasks
- undertakes research and advises on soil mechanics, concrete technology, hydraulics, water and waste water treatment processes and other civil engineering matters
- determines and specifies construction methods, materials, quality and safety standards and ensures that equipment operation and maintenance comply with design specifications
- designs foundations and earthworks
- designs structures such as roads, dams, bridges, railways, hydraulic systems, sewerage systems, industrial and other buildings and plans the layout of tunnels, wells and construction shafts
- organises and plans projects, arranges work schedules, carries out inspection work and plans maintenance control
- organises and establishes control systems to monitor operational efficiency and performance of materials and systems
Typical entry routes and qualifications
Civil engineers usually possess an accredited three or four year degree in civil engineering or engineering science or an accredited Higher National Diploma or Certificate. The status of ‘incorporated engineer’ is obtained upon the completion of further training at work and associate membership of a chartered engineering institution. The status of ‘chartered engineer’ is achieved through the completion of postgraduate training and full membership of a chartered engineering institution.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What civil engineers earn in the UK
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most civil engineers in the UK earn between £38,896 and £64,792 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £50,400 (SOC 2121), sitting at the 52nd percentile of what UK employers pay and £1,572 above the median.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
How to get sponsored as a civil engineer
- 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 civil engineers, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsors - 2
Confirm the salary meets the £50,400 going rate
Your employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 2121 (£50,400) 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 £39,200 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Roles under SOC 2121
Recent jobs under SOC 2121
At Natural Power, we have been pioneers of positive renewable change for 30 years. If you’re looking for a job in the renewable energy industry, we could be just the place to advance your career. As we continue to grow, we are seeking to strengthen our Construction team with a Geotechnical Site Engineer, based out of our Stirling or Glasgow offices. This role will be primarily site-focused and will contribute to the delivery of our exciting upcoming geotechnical projects. Tasks and Responsibilit
Aim of the role: Working within Redcentric’s Cloud Services Group, this role will join a team of forward-thinking and experienced engineers focused on ensuring the ongoing reliability, operation, security and evolution of our customer Azure platforms. The SRE Engineer's main objective is to design and implement systems and processes that ensure a high level of availability, reliability, and scalability. This includes monitoring systems, responding to incidents, and automating processes to preven
Company Description Egis is a leading global architectural, consulting, construction engineering, operations and mobility services firm. We create and operate intelligent infrastructure and buildings that both respond to the climate emergency and contribute to balanced, sustainable and resilient development. Our 23,000 employees operate across over 100 countries, deploying their expertise to develop and deliver cutting-edge innovations and solutions for clients. Through the wide range of our act
Company Description Work with Us. Change the World. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infra
Company Description Work with Us. Change the World. At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations. There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infra
Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (212xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can civil engineers get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Civil engineers roles fall under SOC 2121 (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 salary do civil engineers need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Civil engineers (SOC 2121) is £50,400 (£25.85 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 2121?
SOC 2121 covers a range of civil engineers roles, including: Building and building services engineers, Geotechnical engineers, Mining engineers, Structural engineers, Transportation engineers, Water engineers (professional), and 1 more. 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 civil engineers roles?
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 Civil engineers, that works out to £39,200. The discount lasts up to four years.
Where can I find civil engineers jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Civil engineers 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.