Secondary education teaching professionals (SOC 2313) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
Secondary (and middle school deemed secondary), and sixth form education teaching professionals plan, organise and provide instruction in one or more subjects, including physical education and diversionary activities, within a prescribed curriculum.
Entry is with a first degree that provides QTS (qualified teacher status) or, in Scotland, TQ (teaching qualification); or other relevant degree followed by further postgraduate training (most commonly PGCE – Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education, or, in Scotland, PGDE – Professional Graduate Diploma in Education). Further and higher professional qualifications are required for some teaching posts. A DBS check is mandatory.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most secondary education teaching professionals in the UK earn between £40,664 and £57,148 in basic pay, with experienced professionals in the top 10% earning above £66,508.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
Browse our register of UK companies with an active sponsor licence. Filter by industry, size, sponsor rating, and whether they're currently hiring secondary education teaching professionals, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsorsSecondary education teaching professionals roles follow the national teacher and education pay scale. Your employer must pay at least the grade-specific rate set by the Home Office for this occupation code, not the general £41,700 Skilled Worker threshold.
See education pay scalesYour 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.
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (231xx):
Yes. Secondary education teaching professionals roles fall under SOC 2313 (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.
Secondary education teaching professionals roles (SOC 2313) follow the national education pay scale rather than a fixed going rate. The minimum salary depends on your grade within the pay framework. Check the government's education pay-scale guidance.
SOC 2313 covers a range of secondary education teaching professionals roles, including: Teachers of art, Teachers of biology, Teachers of chemistry, Teachers of design technology, Teachers of drama, Teachers of economics, and 15 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.
We list Secondary education teaching 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.