Chemist jobs with UK visa sponsorship
What chemist roles pay against the Skilled Worker going rate, and who can sponsor.
Checked against gov.uk on
The short answer
For a Skilled Worker visa, a chemist job usually has to pay at least £41,700 a year: the general salary threshold, which is above the £39,900 going rate for SOC 2111 (chemical scientists). SOC 2111 is on the Immigration Salary List only for jobs in the nuclear industry in Scotland, where the certificate of sponsorship is issued before 31 December 2026. For those jobs the published rules set the bar at the higher of £33,400 and the going rate. A new entrant can be paid from £33,400. Figures from the Home Office going-rate tables, updated 11 November 2025.
Chemists analyse and develop substances, from quality control in a lab to research into new materials and medicines.
Worked example: SOC 2111
The rule on gov.uk is whichever figure is higher. Here is the sum for this occupation code.
| Who | How it is worked out | At least |
|---|---|---|
| Experienced hire | The higher of £41,700 (general salary threshold) and £39,900 (going rate) | £41,700 |
| New entrant | The higher of £33,400 (new-entrant minimum) and £33,400 (70% of the going rate) | £33,400 |
Who counts as a new entrant is set out on gov.uk: for example, people under 26, or people on (or recently on) a Student visa at degree level or a Graduate visa. The total stay on new-entrant rates cannot be more than 4 years, including time on a Graduate visa. Read when you can be paid less on gov.uk.
How many visas were granted for these occupation codes?
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SOC 2111 Chemical scientists
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 45 Skilled Worker entry clearance visas to main applicants applying from outside the UK for this occupation code.
The industries sponsors gave most often for these visas: Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities (21); and Manufacturing (13).
The most common nationalities among them: India (11) and United States (10).
| Occupation code | Jul to Sep 2025 | Oct to Dec 2025 | Jan to Mar 2026 (provisional) | Apr to Jun 2026 (provisional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2111 | 14 | 8 | 15 | 8 |
Visas applied for from outside the UK only: switches inside the UK, for example from a Student or Graduate visa, are not counted. The sponsor chooses the occupation code and the industry. A small number of grants that could not be matched to a certificate of sponsorship are not included. Figures for January to June 2026 are provisional. Source: Home Office, Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry (SOC 2020), year ending June 2026 (published 27 August 2026). Immigration system statistics data tables.
What the rules say for chemist jobs
SOC 2111 (chemical scientists) is on the Home Office table of graduate-level occupations (RQF level 6 and above), which is open to new Skilled Worker applications.
For chemical scientists (SOC 2111), the going rate of £39,900 is below the £41,700 general threshold, so the general threshold is the bar for an experienced hire: at least £41,700 a year. A new entrant can be paid from £33,400.
SOC 2111 is on the Immigration Salary List only for jobs in the nuclear industry in Scotland, where the certificate of sponsorship is issued before 31 December 2026. For those jobs the published rules set the bar at the higher of £33,400 and the going rate.
The Home Office lists these job titles under 2111: Analytical chemists, Industrial chemists, Research and development chemists, Nuclear and radiochemists and Chemical scientists (other).
What sponsors look for in chemist hires
Chemical scientists, including analytical and research chemists, have a going rate below the general threshold. That means the general threshold, or the new-entrant rate if you qualify, usually sets the minimum. Nuclear industry jobs in Scotland are the exception while they are on the Immigration Salary List, set out above.
Pharmaceutical, materials and testing companies sponsor chemists. Laboratory technician roles are coded lower, and lower-level codes are generally not open to new Skilled Worker applications.
Graduate chemists usually join analytical, quality or research teams. Lab experience with the instruments named in the advert matters, as does a careful record of your methods.
Rules change: always check gov.uk for the current thresholds, and when you can be paid less.
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- Type and rating
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FROM THIS ADVERT
"We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route."
WHAT THIS MEANS
The advert says they can sponsor. Those are their words, not a promise they will sponsor you.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum salary for a chemist on a Skilled Worker visa?
Usually the higher of £41,700 and the going rate for the occupation code. For SOC 2111 that is £41,700 a year, and a new entrant can be paid from £33,400. The figures come from the Home Office tables updated 11 November 2025; check gov.uk before you rely on them. SOC 2111 is on the Immigration Salary List only for jobs in the nuclear industry in Scotland, where the certificate of sponsorship is issued before 31 December 2026. For those jobs the published rules set the bar at the higher of £33,400 and the going rate.
Which occupation code is a chemist job?
The employer chooses the code from the duties of the job, not the title. Visavi maps chemist roles to SOC 2111 (chemical scientists). Job titles the Home Office lists under 2111 include Analytical chemists, Industrial chemists, Research and development chemists and Nuclear and radiochemists.
Can a graduate chemist be paid the new-entrant rate?
Yes, if they count as a new entrant under the published rules: for example, people under 26, or people on (or recently on) a Student visa at degree level or a Graduate visa. For SOC 2111 the new-entrant rate is £33,400. It can be used for up to 4 years in total, including time on a Graduate visa. Check when you can be paid less on gov.uk.
How many Skilled Worker visas were granted for the occupation codes chemist jobs use?
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 45 Skilled Worker entry clearance visas to main applicants applying from outside the UK for SOC 2111 (chemical scientists).
Sources
- Appendix Skilled Occupations (going rates) Updated 11 November 2025
- Skilled Worker visa: your job
- Skilled Worker visa: when you can be paid less
- Home Office: sponsored work visas by occupation and industry Sponsored work entry clearance visas by occupation and industry (SOC 2020), year ending June 2026, published 27 August 2026
- Appendix Immigration Salary List