Aerospace engineers SOC 2126
Aerospace engineers (SOC 2126) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £52,400 per year. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
What does an aerospace engineer do?
Aerospace engineers research develop and design aircraft, spacecraft and their components.
Typical tasks
- conceives and develops engineering designs from product ideas in aerospace engineering
- organises and plans projects, arranges work schedules, carries out inspection work and plans maintenance control
- analyses test data; undertakes research and advises on all aspects of aircraft, spacecraft and their systems
- ensures that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards
- inspects completed aircraft maintenance work to certify that it meets standards and the aircraft is ready for operation
Typical entry routes and qualifications
Job holders in this unit group usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant field. Qualified aircraft engineers need a licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority or equivalent.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What aerospace engineers earn in the UK
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £52,400 (SOC 2126), sitting below the 10th percentile of what UK employers pay and £68 below the median.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
How to get sponsored as an aerospace 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 aerospace engineers, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsors - 2
Confirm the salary meets the £52,400 going rate
Your employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 2126 (£52,400) 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 £43,400 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Roles under SOC 2126
Recent jobs under SOC 2126
ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement & support sustainable transformation. Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At
Job Description Salary Range Engineer £37k - £42k Senior Engineer £44k - £50k Principal Engineer £53k - £60k Where this vacancy is being recruited across more than one grade, the successful candidate will be appointed to a specific assessed grade, and the applicable salary range will be that associated with the grade of appointment. Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring ran
Job Description: Salary Range: Engineer £37k - £42k Senior Engineer £44k - £50k Principal Engineer £53k - £60k Where this vacancy is being recruited across more than one grade, the successful candidate will be appointed to a specific assessed grade, and the applicable salary range will be that associated with the grade of appointment. Leonardo UK operates a grade-based salary framework with broad bands. The salary range shown reflects the approved grade band for this role, or a narrower hiring
Package: Competitive Salary + Benefits Role ID: SF19804 Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Senior Avionics Engineer at our Boscombe Down site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds. The Role As a Senior Avionics Eng
Engineering Manager - Avionics & Test Vacancy Reference: CLA- 424 Position: Full-time Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Salary: £80,000+ DOE At Callen-Lenz, we are expanding the limits of what is possible. We specialise in crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations and technology and having recently received investment into the business we are going through a period of rapid growth and development and are looking for key roles to assist with these changes. Callen-Lenz offers innovative and cus
Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (212xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can aerospace engineers get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Aerospace engineers roles fall under SOC 2126 (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 aerospace engineers need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Aerospace engineers (SOC 2126) is £52,400 (£26.87 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 2126?
SOC 2126 covers a range of aerospace engineers roles, including: Aeronautical engineers (professional), Aircraft engineers (professional), Avionics engineers, Aerospace engineers 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 aerospace 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 Aerospace engineers, that works out to £43,400. The discount lasts up to four years.
Where can I find aerospace engineers jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Aerospace 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.