Senior care workers SOC 6136
Senior care workers (SOC 6136) 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 senior care worker do?
Senior care workers routinely oversee and monitor care workers, care assistants and home carers. They also attend to the personal needs and comforts of children, the elderly and the infirm and others with care and support needs (‘service users’) within residential care establishments, day care establishments or in their own homes.
Typical tasks
- routinely oversees and monitors care workers and home carers
- takes responsibility for the shift and for the service while on duty
- responds to emergencies and provides guidance and support to care workers
- assists and enables service users to dress, undress, wash, use the toilet and bathe
- serves meals to service users at table or in bed, assists with feeding if required
- assists with service users’ overall comfort and wellbeing
- provides interest and activities to stimulate and engage the service user
- helps with daily activities such as letter writing, paying bills, collecting benefits
- undertakes light cleaning and domestic duties including meal preparation as required
- monitors service users’ conditions by taking temperature, pulse, respiration and weight, and contributes to record keeping
- liaises with professional staff in carrying out care plans etc
Typical entry routes and qualifications
There are no formal academic entry requirements. In most cases workers will be required to register with the appropriate statutory body which involves satisfying the registration criteria. This would normally include holding or working towards the appropriate qualification for the job. A wide range of qualifications including NVQs/SVQs covering various aspects of care are available. Senior care workers must be qualified to an appropriate level (usually NVQ level 3). They often have a background in social care and have achieved a qualification in this area some may have nursing qualifications. Background checks including a DBS check are likely to be required.
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What senior care workers earn in the UK
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most senior care workers in the UK earn between £26,104 and £34,008 in basic pay, with experienced professionals in the top 10% earning above £38,480. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £33,400 (SOC 6136), sitting at the 72nd percentile of what UK employers pay and £4,020 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 senior care worker
- 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 senior care workers, 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 6136 (£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 Senior care workers (SOC 6136) is on the Immigration Salary List, employers may apply a 20% discount to the standard going rate.
Roles under SOC 6136
Recent jobs under SOC 6136
Job Description : Senior Care Assistant (Days) Location : The Sycamores, Norton Road Wakefield Job Type : Permanent, Full-time 38.5hrs per including alternative weekends Salary : £13.81ph Sponsorship : Not currently available Join Highgate Care - Where Kindness Is Key At Highgate Care, kindness isn’t just something we talk about, it’s the foundation of everything we do. As a small and compassionate care group, we pride ourselves on offering truly person-centred care, where every resident is valu
Job Description : Senior Care Assistant Location : Sutton Hall & Lodge, Corn Mill Walk, Sutton-in-Craven, Keighley Job Type : Permanent, Full-time Salary : £14.33 Sponsorship : Not currently available Join Highgate Care - Where Kindness Is Key At Highgate Care, kindness isn’t just something we talk about, it’s the foundation of everything we do. As a small and compassionate care group, we pride ourselves on offering truly person-centred care, where every resident is valued, supported, and ab
Job Description : Senior Care Assistant (Days) Location : Maple Court, 182 Barrowcliff Road, Scarborough Job Type : Permanent, Full-time Salary : £14.33ph Sponsorship : Not currently available Join Highgate Care - Where Kindness Is Key At Highgate Care, kindness isn’t just something we talk about, it’s the foundation of everything we do. As a small and compassionate care group, we pride ourselves on offering truly person-centred care, where every resident is valued, supported, and able to thrive
Job Description : Senior Care Assistant (Days) Location : Oaktree Hall & Lodge, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire. Job Type : Permanent, Full-time (42 hours per week, includes occasional evenings and weekends) Salary : £14.33 Sponsorship : Not currently available Join Highgate Care - Where Kindness Is Key At Highgate Care, kindness isn’t just something we talk about, it’s the foundation of everything we do. As a small and compassionate care group, we pride ourselves on offering truly per
Senior Care Assistant - Days 44 hrs per week £13.84 per hr Devonshire House & Lodge - Plymouth - PL6 7JW Are you ambitious? Do you want something else? Are you looking for new energy? We are on the hunt in Plymouth for our next amazing Senior Care Assistants! Our Care teams are the superheroes of the business, supporting our residents and providing peace of mind to families that their loved ones are in the best of care. Have you ever asked the question - Why get into Care? Care is one of the
Related occupations
Other Skilled Worker-eligible roles in the same SOC minor group (613xx):
Frequently asked questions
Can senior care workers get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Senior care workers roles fall under SOC 6136 (Medium Skilled - Specific Roles Only), 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 senior care workers need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Senior care workers (SOC 6136) 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 6136?
SOC 6136 covers a range of senior care workers roles, including: Senior community support workers, Senior home care workers, Senior residential care workers, Senior care workers 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 senior care workers?
Because Senior care workers (SOC 6136) 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 senior care workers 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 Senior care workers, that works out to £25,000. The discount lasts up to four years.
Where can I find senior care workers jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Senior care workers 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.