Roofers, roof tilers and slaters SOC 5314
Roofers, roof tilers and slaters (SOC 5314) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £33,400 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.
What does a roofers, roof tilers and slater do?
Roofers, roof tilers and slaters cover roofs and exterior walls with felting, sheeting, slates, tiles and thatch to provide a waterproof surface.
Typical tasks
- measures roof or exterior wall and calculates required amounts of underfelt, tiles, slates or thatching material
- cuts wooden battens, felt and underfelt to required size
- lays and secures underfelt and covers with hot bitumen or other adhesive compound
- lays, aligns and secures successive overlapping layers of roofing material
- seals edges of roof with mortar and ensures that joints are watertight
Typical entry routes and qualifications
There are no formal academic entry requirements, though GCSEs/S grades are advantageous. Entry is typically through an approved apprenticeship programme or college course in conjunction with on-the-job training, leading to a NVQ/SVQ level 2/3 qualification, or through building up work experience supplemented with short courses.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What roofers, roof tilers and slaters earn in the UK
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most roofers, roof tilers and slaters in the UK earn between £27,716 and £36,140 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £33,400 (SOC 5314), sitting at the 56th percentile of what UK employers pay and £796 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 roofers, roof tilers and slater
- 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 roofers, roof tilers and slaters, 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 5314 (£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 £25,000 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Because Roofers, roof tilers and slaters (SOC 5314) is on the Immigration Salary List, employers may apply a 20% discount to the standard going rate.
Roles under SOC 5314
Recent jobs under SOC 5314
Rochester - covering postcode areas across Dartford, Bromley, Croydon and Medway Up To £38,000 Plus Company Van And Fuel Card Successful candidate will undergo a basic DBS check Hyde is looking to recruit a Roofer to join our team. Hyde is one of the UK’s leading and award-winning providers of affordable homes in London, the South East, and surrounding areas. We provide and manage 50,000 homes to over 100,000 customers. Our ethos is simple: by providing customers with a safe and decent home, we
Annual salary: up to £35,878.50 Roofer Location: Croydon Contract: Full Time Permanent Salary up to £37,044.55 per annum, plus, company van & fuel card 42.5 hours per week (8-5 Monday- Friday) We are the largest provider of repairs, maintenance, and regeneration services across the UK. At Mears, we deliver tailored rapid-response and planned maintenance solutions through long-standing partnerships with over 70 local authorities, ALMOs, and Housing Associations. As part of our skilled workfor
Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (531xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can roofers, roof tilers and slaters get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Roofers, roof tilers and slaters roles fall under SOC 5314 (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. It's on the Immigration Salary List too, so a reduced salary threshold may apply.
What salary do roofers, roof tilers and slaters need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Roofers, roof tilers and slaters (SOC 5314) is £33,400 (£17.13 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.
What job titles are covered by SOC 5314?
SOC 5314 covers a range of roofers, roof tilers and slaters roles, including: Felt and flat roofers, Sheeters and cladders, Thatchers, Tilers and slaters, Roofers, roof tilers and slaters 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.
How does the Immigration Salary List discount work for roofers, roof tilers and slaters?
Because Roofers, roof tilers and slaters (SOC 5314) 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.
Is there a lower salary for new graduates entering roofers, roof tilers and slaters 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 Roofers, roof tilers and slaters, that works out to £25,000. The discount lasts up to four years.
Where can I find roofers, roof tilers and slaters jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Roofers, roof tilers and slaters 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.