Metal working production and maintenance fitters SOC 5223
Metal working production and maintenance fitters (SOC 5223) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £39,300 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 metal working production and maintenance fitter do?
Metal working production and maintenance fitters and technicians erect, install and repair electrical and mechanical plant and industrial machinery, fit and assemble parts and sub-assemblies in the manufacture of metal products and test and adjust new motor vehicles and engines.
Typical tasks
- examines drawings and specifications to determine appropriate methods and sequence of operations
- fits and assembles parts and/or metal sub-assemblies to fine tolerances to make marine engines, prototype metal products, agricultural machinery and machine tools
- fits and assembles, other than to fine tolerances, prepared parts and sub-assemblies to make motor vehicles, printing and agricultural machinery, orthopaedic appliances and other metal goods
- examines operation of, and makes adjustments to internal combustion engines and motor vehicles
- erects, installs, repairs and services plant and industrial machinery, including railway stock, textile machines, coin operated machines, locks, sewing machines, bicycles and gas and oil appliances
Typical entry routes and qualifications
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades or a BTEC/SQA award. Apprenticeships in Engineering Maintenance at NVQ/SVQ level 3 are available.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What metal working production and maintenance fitters earn in the UK
Plus £502 – £2,587 in bonus & commission
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most metal working production and maintenance fitters in the UK earn between £30,264 and £46,176 in basic pay, with experienced professionals in the top 10% earning above £56,784. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £39,300 (SOC 5223), sitting at the 55th percentile of what UK employers pay and £1,860 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.
How to get sponsored as a metal working production and maintenance fitter
- 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 metal working production and maintenance fitters, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsors - 2
Confirm the salary meets the £39,300 going rate
Your employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 5223 (£39,300) 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 £29,900 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Roles under SOC 5223
Recent jobs under SOC 5223
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Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (522xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can metal working production and maintenance fitters get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Metal working production and maintenance fitters roles fall under SOC 5223 (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 metal working production and maintenance fitters need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Metal working production and maintenance fitters (SOC 5223) 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 5223?
SOC 5223 covers a range of metal working production and maintenance fitters roles, including: Automation maintenance technicians, Bicycle mechanics, Catering equipment technicians, Door fitters and makers, Gunsmiths, Heavy plant maintenance technicians, and 7 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.
What does the Shortage Occupation List mean for metal working production and maintenance fitters?
Metal working production and maintenance fitters (SOC 5223) 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 metal working production and maintenance fitters 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 Metal working production and maintenance fitters, that works out to £29,900. The discount lasts up to four years.
Where can I find metal working production and maintenance fitters jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Metal working production and maintenance fitters 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.