Healthcare, care, education and childcare roles often need a DBS eligibility assessment. Assess the actual duties and activities: a SOC code never determines the level of check.
Scotland uses Disclosure Scotland; Northern Ireland uses AccessNI. Basic checks have different eligibility rules.
Estimate the salary requirement
See the applicable threshold and how it is calculated. Salary alone does not establish visa eligibility.
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Your salary estimate
Choose the occupation, hours and application details to see the applicable calculation.
Rules checked 26 October 2026. This snapshot does not reconstruct historical rules or predict future changes.
Find the right code
Start with the main duties, then compare related job titles and the ONS description. A familiar title can cover several different occupations. Use a legacy conversion only as a set of possible matches.
The general salary threshold, occupation going rate and applicable hourly minimum must all be considered. Salary is one part of a Skilled Worker application. Check the source conditions and the sponsor’s obligations.
A Standard Occupational Classification code groups jobs by the work involved and the skills needed. SOC 2020 uses four-digit unit groups. An occupation code is not a visa decision.
What is the difference between SOC 2010 and SOC 2020?
SOC 2020 updates the earlier classification. Some occupations moved, split or merged. The same four digits can have a different meaning, so select the classification version before converting an old code.
What if my exact job title is missing?
Try a common title, important duties or a broader occupation family. Search includes the ONS coding index. Compare several results against the actual work, rather than choosing by wording alone.
Is my occupation eligible for a Skilled Worker visa?
The code must have an applicable pathway under Appendix Skilled Worker. Sponsorship, salary and the applicant’s other requirements must also be met. Finding a code here does not establish eligibility.
Does Medium Skilled status guarantee sponsorship eligibility?
No. A relevant shortage-list entry or transitional permission may be needed. Job restrictions, country, Certificate of Sponsorship dates and continuous permission can affect the result.
What is the going rate?
It is the occupation-specific salary requirement in Appendix Skilled Occupations. It is considered alongside the applicable general salary threshold and any hourly constraint.
Why can the same code have different salary requirements?
The points option, earlier immigration permission, qualifications, new-entrant conditions, hours and national pay scale can change the applicable requirement.
How do working hours affect salary?
ASHE going rates generally use 37.5 hours and are adjusted to the contracted hours. The general annual threshold is not reduced for part-time work. A separate rule limits the pay counted towards that threshold to 48 hours.
Can new entrants and PhD holders use lower thresholds?
Sometimes. The relevant points option has specific conditions. Being under 26 is not enough if the combined new-entrant permission would exceed four years. A PhD must be recognised, relevant and supported by the sponsor, and the occupation must qualify.
Do health and education jobs use different rules?
Many use national pay scales with nation, band or role-specific rates. Some health and care jobs instead use ASHE rates. This distinction depends on the published table and applicable employer conditions.
Can I convert an old SOC code?
Use the SOC 2010 search mode to see possible SOC 2020 matches from the official coding index. One old code may map to several new codes; compare the duties before selecting.
Do SOC codes determine DBS checks?
No. A code can suggest that an assessment is useful, but actual duties, activities, people served, workplace, frequency and legislation determine eligibility.
Who can obtain Standard, Enhanced or barred-list checks?
These checks are restricted to legally eligible roles and activities. Barred-list checks need their own legal basis. Use official eligibility guidance and assess the role before requesting a check.
Is DBS the same as Right to Work?
No. Disclosure checks and Right to Work checks serve different purposes. Completing one does not replace the other.
How often is the data updated?
This version was checked on 26 October 2026. Updates require a source comparison and human review; this is not a live government feed. A stale-data notice appears when the review is due.
Why do actual duties matter more than the closest title?
Titles are used differently by different employers. The correct classification depends on the substantive job, and an inappropriate code can affect a sponsorship application.
