Data engineer jobs with UK visa sponsorship
What data engineer 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 data engineer job usually has to pay at least £54,900 a year: the going rate for SOC 2133 (IT business analysts, architects and systems designers), which is above the £41,700 general salary threshold. A new entrant can be paid from £38,400. Figures from the Home Office going-rate tables, updated 11 November 2025.
Data engineers build the pipelines and warehouses that move data from source systems to the people and models that use it.
Worked example: SOC 2133
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 £54,900 (going rate) | £54,900 |
| New entrant | The higher of £33,400 (new-entrant minimum) and £38,400 (70% of the going rate) | £38,400 |
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 2133 IT business analysts, architects and systems designers
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 1,128 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: Information and Communications (395); Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities (302); and Financial and Insurance Activities (242).
The most common nationalities among them: India (511), United States (132) and Italy (38).
| Occupation code | Jul to Sep 2025 | Oct to Dec 2025 | Jan to Mar 2026 (provisional) | Apr to Jun 2026 (provisional) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC 2133 | 338 | 265 | 256 | 269 |
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 data engineer jobs
SOC 2133 (IT business analysts, architects and systems designers) is on the Home Office table of graduate-level occupations (RQF level 6 and above), which is open to new Skilled Worker applications.
Data engineer and IT business analyst jobs share SOC 2133, so the going-rate figures and visa statistics on this page are the same as on the IT business analyst page. What differs is the work itself and what sponsors look for, below.
For IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (SOC 2133), the going rate of £54,900 is above the £41,700 general threshold, so the going rate is the bar for an experienced hire: at least £54,900 a year. A new entrant can be paid from £38,400.
The Home Office lists these job titles under 2133: Data engineers, Data architects, Computer analysts and scientists, IT systems architects, IT business analysts and IT solutions architects and designers.
What sponsors look for in data engineer hires
Data engineers are listed by name under IT business analysts, architects and systems designers. The same code covers solutions architects and IT business analysts, so it is a well-trodden path for sponsors in finance, retail and the public sector.
Entry routes include graduate technology schemes and analyst roles that grow into engineering. If you are moving from analysis into engineering, the code can change with the duties, and so can the salary the role needs to meet.
Graduates often join as junior data engineers or move across from analyst roles. The day to day is SQL, Python and the tools that schedule and test data pipelines. Interviews usually test SQL and how you would design a simple pipeline.
Rules change: always check gov.uk for the current thresholds, and when you can be paid less.
The evidence on every job in Visavi
AI VERDICT
Strong apply
Your profile fits, and the advert says they can sponsor.
UK SPONSOR REGISTER
- Organisation
- Northbank Analytics
- Town
- London
- Type and rating
- Worker (A rating)
- Route
- Skilled Worker
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 data engineer on a Skilled Worker visa?
Usually the higher of £41,700 and the going rate for the occupation code. For SOC 2133 that is £54,900 a year, and a new entrant can be paid from £38,400. The figures come from the Home Office tables updated 11 November 2025; check gov.uk before you rely on them.
Which occupation code is a data engineer job?
The employer chooses the code from the duties of the job, not the title. Visavi maps data engineer roles to SOC 2133 (IT business analysts, architects and systems designers). Job titles the Home Office lists under 2133 include Data engineers, Data architects, Computer analysts and scientists and IT systems architects.
Can a graduate data engineer 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 2133 the new-entrant rate is £38,400. 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 data engineer jobs use?
In the year to June 2026, the Home Office granted 1,128 Skilled Worker entry clearance visas to main applicants applying from outside the UK for SOC 2133 (IT business analysts, architects and systems designers).
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