Programmers and software development professionals (SOC 2134, also written as job code 2134) 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.
Not sure if SOC 2134 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 2134Programmers and software development professionals design, develop, test, implement and maintain software systems on a range of platforms in order to meet the specifications and business objectives of the information system; they also design and develop specialist software e.g. for computer games.
Entrants usually possess a degree or equivalent qualification, although entry with other academic qualifications and/or significant relevant experience is possible. There is a variety of vocational, professional and postgraduate qualifications available.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
Plus £1,639 – £8,322 in bonus & commission
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most programmers and software development professionals in the UK earn between £42,536 and £76,752 in basic pay, with experienced professionals in the top 10% earning above £97,864. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £54,700 (SOC 2134), sitting at the 46th percentile of what UK employers pay and £2,084 below the median.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
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Browse our register of UK companies with an active sponsor licence. Filter by industry, size, sponsor rating, and whether they're currently hiring programmers and software development professionals, 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 2134 (£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 £38,300 per year for up to 4 years.
Continuously sponsored as a Skilled Worker since before 4 April 2024? Lower thresholds apply: £40,000 standard, or £28,000 as a new entrant.
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (213xx):
Yes. Programmers and software development professionals roles fall under SOC 2134 (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 2134, SOC code 2134 and occupation code 2134 all refer to the same thing: the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) unit group covering programmers and software development professionals. 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 Programmers and software development professionals (SOC 2134) 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 2134 covers a range of programmers and software development professionals roles, including: Computer games designers, Computer programmers, Software developers, Programmers and software development professionals 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 Programmers and software development professionals (SOC 2134) the new entrant minimum is £38,300 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 Programmers and software development professionals 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.