Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians SOC 5231
Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians (SOC 5231) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £35,500 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 vehicle technicians, mechanics and electrician do?
Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians accept calls for help and repair and service the mechanical parts and electrical/electronic circuitry and components of cars, lorries, buses, motorcycles and other motor vehicles, and repair and service auto air-conditioning systems.
Typical tasks
- visually checks, test drives or uses test equipment to diagnose engine and mechanical faults
- removes, dismantles, repairs and replaces defective parts and prepares new parts using appropriate tools
- reassembles, tests, adjusts and tunes the appropriate parts, systems or entire engine
- carries out routine maintenance checks on oil and air filters, brakes and other vehicle parts/systems
- diagnoses faults in electrical/electronic circuitry, removes faulty components and fits replacements
- checks condition of electrical/electronic systems and carries out servicing tasks
- installs additional electrical amenities such as radio/CD players, aerials
- repairs and services air conditioning, heating and engine-cooling systems
Typical entry routes and qualifications
There are no formal academic entry requirements, although some employers may require GCSEs/S grades or an equivalent qualification. Training is undertaken Off and on-the-job. Apprenticeships at NVQ/SVQ levels 2 and 3 are available and take three to four years to complete.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians earn in the UK
Plus ~£1,969 in bonus & commission
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians in the UK earn between £29,068 and £41,548 in basic pay, with experienced professionals in the top 10% earning above £47,476. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £35,500 (SOC 5231), sitting at the 52nd percentile of what UK employers pay and £608 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 vehicle technicians, mechanics and electrician
- 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 vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsors - 2
Confirm the salary meets the £35,500 going rate
Your employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 5231 (£35,500) 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 5231
Recent jobs under SOC 5231
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Mechanic at Peoples Automotive Group - Livingston To say welcome, we’ll give you a £2k joining bonus!* Our mechanics are the backbone of our Workshops and play a vital role in keeping our customers and their vehicles safe and on the move. In this role, you will have the chance to work on a huge range of vehicles, from the classic models to the newest Ford hybrid and electric vehicles and everything in-between. We are proud to offer continuous development and training for anyone who wants to take
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Job Description Location: Donnelly Group, Maydown Industrial Estate, 15A Carrakeel Drive, Maydown Vehicle Administrator - Donnelly Group, Maydown We Are Looking For Ambitious Individuals With Excellent communication skills – a key to success Curiosity – a desire to learn and develop An eye for detail – to capture information accurately, follow processes and deliver an excellent service Energy – to motivate yourself, enthuse others and support the team to achieve targets. Why not use your experie
Join Wellesley Hospital in Wellington as a Maintenance Technician, where you will play the lead role in creating a well-presented and safe environment for some of the most vulnerable people in society. Working 37.5 hours per week, you will be the primary person responsible for ensuring the service's facilities are fit for purpose. You will oversee all maintenance, gardening, and audits to identify and repair any faults, ensuring a safe and therapeutic environment for service users, staff, and vi
Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (523xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians roles fall under SOC 5231 (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 vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians (SOC 5231) 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 5231?
SOC 5231 covers a range of vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians roles, including: Auto electricians, Car/light vehicle technicians, Heavy and large vehicle technicians, Motorcycle technicians, Motorsport technicians, MOT testers, and 2 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 vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians?
Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians (SOC 5231) 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 vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians 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 Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians, that works out to £27,900. The discount lasts up to four years.
Where can I find vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians 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.