Nursing auxiliaries and assistants (SOC 6131) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. 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.
Nursing auxiliaries and assistants assist doctors, nurses and other health professionals in caring for the sick and injured within hospitals, homes, clinics and the wider community.
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Off and on-the-job training is provided. NVQs/ SVQs in Health and Social Care are available at levels 2 and 3.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most nursing auxiliaries and assistants in the UK earn between £24,492 and £30,316 in basic pay, with experienced professionals in the top 10% earning above £36,868.
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 nursing auxiliaries and assistants, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsorsNursing auxiliaries and assistants roles follow the NHS national pay scale. Your employer must pay at least the Agenda for Change rate set by the Home Office for this occupation code, not the general £41,700 Skilled Worker threshold.
See NHS pay scalesYour 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.
Because Nursing auxiliaries and assistants (SOC 6131) 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 (613xx):
Yes. Nursing auxiliaries and assistants roles fall under SOC 6131 (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.
Nursing auxiliaries and assistants roles (SOC 6131) follow the NHS national pay scale rather than a fixed going rate. The minimum salary depends on your Agenda for Change pay band. Check the government's Agenda for Change guidance for your grade.
SOC 6131 covers a range of nursing auxiliaries and assistants roles, including: Blood donor carers and phlebotomists, First aid trainers, Maternity care assistants, Occupational therapy assistants, Physiotherapy assistants, Radiography assistants, and 4 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.
Because Nursing auxiliaries and assistants (SOC 6131) 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.
We list Nursing auxiliaries and assistants 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.