SOC 2020 code 8229Not eligible
Mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified: Skilled Worker visa salary
Mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified (SOC 8229) 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 8229 include: Agricultural machinist, Digger driver, Dredger, Excavator driver, JCB driver, Plant operator, Rig operator, Tractor driver (agriculture).
Questions about SOC 8229
- What salary do mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified need for a UK Skilled Worker visa?
- Mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified (SOC 8229) 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.