Building and civil engineering technicians SOC 3114
Building and civil engineering technicians (SOC 3114) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £33,400 per year. This role is on the Temporary Shortage Occupation List, so you may qualify with a lower salary and get extra points. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
What does a building and civil engineering technician do?
Building and civil engineering technicians perform a variety of technical support functions to assist civil and building engineers.
Typical tasks
- sets up apparatus and equipment and undertakes field and laboratory tests of soil and work materials
- performs calculations and collects, records and interprets data
- sets out construction site, supervises excavations and marks out position of building work to be undertaken
- inspects construction materials and supervises work of contractors to ensure compliance with specifications and arranges remedial work as necessary
- creates and designs plans (using computer aided software)
- estimates project costs
- estimates timescales for project delivery
Typical entry routes and qualifications
Entrants usually possess a relevant BTEC/SQA award, level 3 diploma or HNC/HND. Some entrants may posess a degree. The status of engineering technician is obtained after a period of further training at work and upon gaining the membership of a professional engineering institution.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What building and civil engineering technicians 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 £33,400 (SOC 3114), sitting below the 10th percentile of what UK employers pay and £2,688 below the median. Since this falls below the general salary threshold, sponsors must pay at least £41,700.
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 building and civil engineering technician
- 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 building and civil engineering technicians, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsors - 2
Confirm the salary meets the £33,400 going rate
Your employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 3114 (£33,400) 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 £27,900 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Roles under SOC 3114
Recent jobs under SOC 3114
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Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (311xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can building and civil engineering technicians get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Building and civil engineering technicians roles fall under SOC 3114 (Medium 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. This role is also on the Temporary Shortage Occupation List, which can mean a lower salary bar.
What salary do building and civil engineering technicians need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Building and civil engineering technicians (SOC 3114) is £41,700 (£21.38 per hour). Standard minimum 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 3114?
SOC 3114 covers a range of building and civil engineering technicians roles, including: Building technicians, Civil engineering technicians, Surveying technicians, Building and civil engineering technicians 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.
What does the Shortage Occupation List mean for building and civil engineering technicians?
Building and civil engineering technicians (SOC 3114) is on the Temporary Shortage Occupation List, which recognises a UK labour shortage in this field. In practice that means a lower salary threshold, plus extra "tradeable" points on your visa application. The Home Office lets shortage status stand in for a higher salary.
Is there a lower salary for new graduates entering building and civil engineering technicians 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 Building and civil engineering technicians, that works out to £27,900. The discount lasts up to four years.
Where can I find building and civil engineering technicians jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Building and civil engineering technicians 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.