Energy plant operatives: Skilled Worker visa salary
For a Skilled Worker visa in SOC 8133 (energy plant operatives), you need a salary of at least £41,700 a year: the general minimum, which is above this occupation's £41,500 going rate. New entrants, such as recent graduates, people under 26 or those switching from a Student or Graduate visa, need at least £33,400. It is on the Temporary Shortage List, so new applicants can be sponsored if their certificate is issued before 31 December 2026.
- Minimum salary
- £41,700
- £21.38 an hour
- Going rate
- £41,500
- For a 37.5-hour week
- New entrants
- £33,400
- 70% of the going rate, at least £33,400
What this covers
Job titles in SOC 8133 include: Boiler operatives, Compressor operatives, Nuclear decommissioning operatives.
Questions about SOC 8133
- What salary do energy plant operatives need for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
- For a Skilled Worker visa in SOC 8133 (energy plant operatives), you need a salary of at least £41,700 a year: the general minimum, which is above this occupation's £41,500 going rate. New entrants, such as recent graduates, people under 26 or those switching from a Student or Graduate visa, need at least £33,400. It is on the Temporary Shortage List, so new applicants can be sponsored if their certificate is issued before 31 December 2026.
- What is the going rate for SOC 8133?
- The going rate for Energy plant operatives (SOC 8133) is £41,500 a year (£21.28 an hour) for a 37.5-hour week. It must be pro-rated for other working patterns.
- Can a new graduate be sponsored in SOC 8133?
- Yes, if the job meets the new-entrant rate: at least £33,400 a year, which is 70% of the going rate and no less than £33,400. New-entrant rates can be used for up to four years in total.
- 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.
Related occupations
- 8131 Paper and wood machine operativesNot eligible
- 8132 Mining and quarry workers and related operativesNot eligible
- 8134 Water and sewerage plant operativesOnly if already on a Skilled Worker visa
- 8135 Printing machine assistantsNot eligible
- 8139 Plant and machine operatives not elsewhere classifiedNot eligible
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.