Advertising and marketing associate professionals SOC 3554
Advertising and marketing associate professionals (SOC 3554, also written as job code 3554) 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.
Not sure if SOC 3554 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 3554What does an advertising and marketing associate professional do?
Advertising and marketing associate professionals assist in the development and implementation of projects which aim to elicit the preferences and requirements of consumers, businesses and other specified target groups so that suppliers may meet these needs.
Typical tasks
- discusses business methods, products or services and targets customer group with employer or client to identify marketing requirements
- collates and interprets findings of market research and presents results to clients
- through market research, discusses possible changes that need to be made in terms of design, price, packaging, promotion etc
- develops digital marketing strategies, such as the use of social media, to promote products, brands or services and presents options to the client
- briefs advertising team on client requirements, monitors the progress of advertising campaigns and liaises with client on potential modifications
Typical entry routes and qualifications
There are no formal academic requirements, although many entrants possess a BTEC/SQA award, A levels/H grades, a degree or equivalent qualification. Training is typically in-house, supplemented by short courses or professional qualifications provided by the Market Research Society.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What marketing associate professionals earn in the UK
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most marketing associate professionals in the UK earn between £27,404 and £40,404 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £33,400 (SOC 3554), sitting at the 52nd percentile of what UK employers pay and £640 above 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 an advertising and marketing associate professional
- 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 advertising and marketing associate professionals, 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 3554 (£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 £33,400 per year for up to 4 years.
Continuously sponsored as a Skilled Worker since before 4 April 2024? Lower thresholds apply: £31,300 standard, or £25,000 as a new entrant.
Roles under SOC 3554
Recent jobs under SOC 3554
Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (355xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can advertising and marketing associate professionals get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Advertising and marketing associate professionals roles fall under SOC 3554 (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 is job code 3554?
Job code 3554, SOC code 3554 and occupation code 3554 all refer to the same thing: the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) unit group covering advertising and marketing associate 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.
What salary do advertising and marketing associate professionals need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Advertising and marketing associate professionals (SOC 3554) 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 3554?
SOC 3554 covers a range of advertising and marketing associate professionals roles, including: Advertising and marketing executives, Fundraisers, Market researchers (excludes interviewers), Marketing associate 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.
What does the Shortage Occupation List mean for advertising and marketing associate professionals?
Advertising and marketing associate professionals (SOC 3554) 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 advertising and marketing associate professionals roles?
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 Advertising and marketing associate professionals (SOC 3554) the new entrant minimum is £33,400 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.
Where can I find advertising and marketing associate professionals jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Advertising and marketing associate 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.