SOC 2020 code 8139Not eligible
Plant and machine operatives not elsewhere classified: Skilled Worker visa salary
Plant and machine operatives not elsewhere classified (SOC 8139) 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 8139 include: Bench hand (metal trades), Cable maker (spring mfr), Laser operator, Manufacturer (metal goods mfr), Saw doctor.
Questions about SOC 8139
- What salary do plant and machine operatives not elsewhere classified need for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
- Plant and machine operatives not elsewhere classified (SOC 8139) 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.
Related occupations
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.