SOC 2020 code 8120Not eligible
Metal working machine operatives: Skilled Worker visa salary
Metal working machine operatives (SOC 8120) jobs cannot be sponsored for a Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility or Scale-up visa, whatever the salary.
What this covers
Job titles in SOC 8120 include: Engineer (nos), Machinist (metal trades), Metal polisher, Process worker (metal trades), Shot blaster.
Questions about SOC 8120
- What salary do metal working machine operatives need for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
- Metal working machine operatives (SOC 8120) jobs cannot be sponsored for a Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility or Scale-up visa, whatever the salary.
- Who decides which occupation code a job uses?
- Your sponsor chooses the SOC 2020 code when it assigns your certificate of sponsorship. It must match the job's actual duties, not just its title.
Source: Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations and the Temporary Shortage List on GOV.UK, as of 13 October 2026. A guide, not immigration advice: PhD discounts, the Immigration Salary List and pre-April-2024 transitional rates aren't covered.