Arts officers, producers and directors (SOC 3416) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £38,100 per year. It is also on the Immigration Salary List, which can reduce the salary threshold. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
Arts officers, producers and directors assume creative, financial and organisational responsibilities in the production and direction of television and radio programmes, films, stage presentations, content for other media, and the promotion and exhibition of other creative activities.
Entry can be via academic qualifications, BTEC/SQA awards, diplomas or degrees in sector-relevant subjects. Apprenticeships are available at NVQ levels 2 and 3 in some areas.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most arts officers, producers and directors in the UK earn between £34,840 and £51,636 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £38,100 (SOC 3416), sitting at the 37th percentile of what UK employers pay and £3,760 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.
Browse our register of UK companies with an active sponsor licence. Filter by industry, size, sponsor rating, and whether they're currently hiring arts officers, producers and directors, 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 3416 (£38,100) 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 £28,800 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Because Arts officers, producers and directors (SOC 3416) is on the Immigration Salary List, employers may apply a 20% discount to the standard going rate.
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (341xx):
Yes. Arts officers, producers and directors roles fall under SOC 3416 (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. It's on the Immigration Salary List too, so a reduced salary threshold may apply.
The going rate for Arts officers, producers and directors (SOC 3416) is £38,100 (£19.54 per hour). Immigration salary list rate applies. Your employer must pay whichever is higher: this going rate or the general Skilled Worker threshold of £41,700 per year.
SOC 3416 covers a range of arts officers, producers and directors roles, including: Art consultants, Broadcasting and entertainment directors, Broadcasting and entertainment editors, Broadcasting and entertainment producers, Studio and stage managers, Arts officers, producers and directors 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.
Because Arts officers, producers and directors (SOC 3416) is on the Immigration Salary List, employers can sponsor workers at a salary 20% below the standard going rate. This discount replaced the old Shortage Occupation List concession in April 2024.
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 Arts officers, producers and directors, that works out to £28,800. The discount lasts up to four years.
We list Arts officers, producers and directors 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.