2152SOC 2020 · 2 · 21 · 215Higher Skilled · Table 1

Environment professionals: UK Skilled Worker visa and SOC 2152

Higher Skilled

Rules checked against GOV.UK 6 November 2026 · Compiled by SWC Editorial Team

Can you get a Skilled Worker visa as an environment professional?

Yes. You can get a UK Skilled Worker visa as an environment professional (SOC 2152) if you meet the requirements below.

What you need

You must have:

  • a job offer from a UK employer that's allowed to sponsor visas (check the sponsor list)
  • a "certificate of sponsorship" from that employer: a reference number with details of your job
  • a salary of at least £41,700 a year
  • English at level B2: you can usually prove it with an approved test or a degree taught in English (ways to prove it)
  • £1,270 in savings, unless your employer covers your first month or you've been in the UK for 12 months or more

You can be paid less than £41,700 in some cases:

  • £33,400 a year if you’re a new entrant
  • £37,500 a year with a PhD relevant to the job
  • £33,400 a year with a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD relevant to the job

You're a new entrant if, for example, you're under 26, recently finished studying in the UK, or are working towards a professional qualification. Check who counts as a new entrant.

How much it costs

Visa fee, applying from outside the UK£819 for up to 3 years
£1,618 for more than 3 years
Visa fee, applying from inside the UK£943 for up to 3 years
£1,865 for more than 3 years
Healthcare surchargeusually £1,035 a year
Savings to show (if needed)£1,270

For example, a 3-year visa from outside the UK costs £819 plus £3,105 for the healthcare surcharge: £3,924 in total. Your partner and children pay too if they come with you. Full fees.

How long it takes

  • You'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK.
  • It's usually 8 weeks if you apply from inside the UK.
  • Your visa can last up to 5 years. You can extend it.
  • After 5 years you may be able to apply to settle in the UK.

How to apply

  1. Get a job offer from a licensed sponsor and ask for this job's occupation code (2152).
  2. Get your certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer.
  3. Prove your English and get your documents ready (documents list).
  4. Apply online on GOV.UK: apply from outside the UK. You'll pay the fee and the healthcare surcharge.
  5. Prove your identity, using the ID Check app or at a visa application centre.

Things to check

  • Do make sure the job description matches the work you'll actually do. The occupation code must fit the job.
  • Do check your employer is on the licensed sponsor list.
  • Don't apply before you have a certificate of sponsorship. You need a confirmed job offer first.
  • Don't count overtime, bonuses or allowances. Only guaranteed basic pay counts towards the salary.
  • Don't change job or employer without updating your visa.

Based on the UK Immigration Rules and the Skilled Worker visa guide on GOV.UK. This is a summary, not advice about your own situation.

The rules in detail

SOC 2020 code 2152 (Environment professionals) is Higher Skilled (RQF level 6 or above) and is listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled OccupationsT1 · 29 Oct 26 with a going rate of £37,200 a year (£19.08 an hour). Under points option A the salary must also be at least £41,700 a year.

Source: Appendix Skilled Occupations and eligible occupations and codes, GOV.UK.
Key facts for SOC 2152
OccupationEnvironment professionals
Skilled Worker eligibilityHigher Skilled
Going rate£37,200 a year (£19.08 an hour)T1
Appendix table(s)Table 1, Table 2
Immigration Salary ListNo
Temporary Shortage ListNo
Eligible for PhD pointsYes
Equivalent SOC 2010 code(s)2142, 3550
SOC 2020 group21 Science, research, engineering and technology professionals › 215 Conservation and environment professionals

Going rates for 2152 in Appendix Skilled Occupations

A code can appear in more than one table. Each table applies to different applicants. Rates are per year for a 37.5-hour week and must be pro-rated for other hours.

Table and who it applies toGoing rate90%80%70%
Table 1The main table for Skilled Worker applications. Going rates are based on median earnings (ASHE). £37,200
£19.08/hr		£33,500
£17.18/hr		£33,400
£17.13/hr		£33,400
£17.13/hr
Table 2Rates based on 25th-percentile earnings. Used for Health and Care ASHE salary jobs, and for people granted Skilled Worker permission before 4 April 2024 who have held it continuously and apply before 4 April 2030. Also the rates for Global Business Mobility and Scale-up. £31,400
£16.10/hr		£28,300
£14.51/hr		£25,200
£12.92/hr		£25,000
£12.82/hr

Salary thresholds that apply to 2152

Under Appendix Skilled Worker, the salary must equal or exceed both the general threshold and the going-rate figure for the points option used. This table puts the two figures side by side for each option. It does not say which option applies to any person. See salary thresholds for the conditions on each option.

Options A–E (going rates from Table 1)
OptionConditionGeneral thresholdGoing-rate figureHigher of the two
AStandard £41,700£37,200 (100%) £41,700
BThe applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job £37,500£33,500 (90%) £37,500
CThe applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job £33,400£33,400 (80%) £33,400
DThe applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List (this code is not on the list) £33,400Not applicable –
EThe applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career £33,400£33,400 (70%) £33,400
Options F–J (going rates from Table 2)
OptionConditionGeneral thresholdGoing-rate figureHigher of the two
FStandard £31,300£31,400 (100%) £31,400
GThe applicant has a PhD in a subject relevant to the job £28,200£28,300 (90%) £28,300
HThe applicant has a PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job £25,000£25,200 (80%) £25,200
IThe applicant is being sponsored for a job on the Immigration Salary List (this code is not on the list) £25,000Not applicable –
JThe applicant is a new entrant at the start of their career £25,000£25,000 (70%) £25,000

Job titles under SOC 2152

GOV.UK lists these related job titles:

  • Energy managers
  • Environmental and geo-environmental engineers
  • Environmental consultants
  • Environmental scientists
  • Sustainability officers
  • Environmental professionals not elsewhere classified
More job titles from the ONS SOC 2020 index (7)
  • Energy manager
  • Environmental consultant
  • Environmental engineer
  • Environmental protection officer
  • Environmental technician
  • Flood risk manager
  • Water quality scientist

What the job involves

Environment professionals investigate, address, and advise on a variety of terrestrial and marine environment and resource management issues, including the development and implementation of environmental policies and remedies that address the impacts of human activities and industrial processes on the environment.

Typical tasks

  • Identifies contamination of land, air or water and assesses any adverse impact on the environment
  • Advises on and provides solutions for mitigating the effects of such contamination
  • Implements remediation works
  • Carries out environment-related desk-based research and fieldwork to collect, analyse and interpret data to determine their validity, quality and significance
  • Carries out or assists in environmental audits and environmental impact assessments
  • Communicates scientific and technical information to relevant audiences in an appropriate form, via reports, workshops, educational events, public hearings
  • Assists organisations to conduct their activities in an environmentally appropriate manner
  • Implements, reviews and advises on regulatory and legislative standards, guidelines and policies
  • Provides professional guidance to clients, government agencies, regulators and other relevant bodies, having regard for sustainable approaches and solutions

Typical entry routes and qualifications

A good degree in a relevant subject is normally a minimum entry qualification, and some employers will require a postgraduate qualification. Relevant work experience to complement academic qualifications is highly desirable. Professional qualifications across a wide range of areas of work are available

Description: ONS SOC 2020 Volume 1.

Questions about SOC 2152

Can you get a Skilled Worker visa as an environment professional?

Yes. You can get a UK Skilled Worker visa as an environment professional (SOC 2152) if you meet the requirements: a job offer from a licensed sponsor, a certificate of sponsorship, the minimum salary, and English at level B2. SOC 2020 code 2152 (Environment professionals) is Higher Skilled (RQF level 6 or above) and is listed in Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations with a going rate of £37,200 a year (£19.08 an hour). Under points option A the salary must also be at least £41,700 a year.

What is SOC code 2152?

2152 is the SOC 2020 code for Environment professionals. Environment professionals investigate, address, and advise on a variety of terrestrial and marine environment and resource management issues, including the development and implementation of environmental policies and remedies that address the impacts of human activities and industrial processes on the environment.

What is the going rate for SOC code 2152?

Table 1 of Appendix Skilled Occupations gives a going rate of £37,200 a year (£19.08 an hour) for 2152, based on a 37.5-hour week. It must be pro-rated for other working hours.

What job titles use SOC code 2152?

GOV.UK lists: Energy managers, Environmental and geo-environmental engineers, Environmental consultants, Environmental scientists, Sustainability officers, Environmental professionals not elsewhere classified.

Sources

Compiled by SWC Editorial Team from the sources above. An information summary, not immigration advice. Report an error on this page.