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Physical scientists

Occupation · SOC 2020 2114 · United Kingdom

SOC 2020 code
2114
Going rate (Table 1, options A and D)
£54,600 (£28.00 per hour)
On the Immigration Salary List
No
Sponsored work visas 2025, minor group 211
2,032
Going rate£54,600 Table 1
Year by year
Data as at Immigration Rules, 11 Nov 2025
OC<GBRPHYSICAL<SCIENTISTS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
21146<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Going rates

Minimum salaries by table of Appendix Skilled Occupations (per year, 37.5-hour week). Which table applies depends on the route and option.

TableGoing ratePhD points
Table 1£54,600 (£28.00 per hour)Yes
Table 2£41,500 (£21.28 per hour)Yes

Example job titles (non-exclusive)

  • Geologists
  • Geophysicists
  • Hydrogeologists and hydrologists
  • Meteorologists
  • Physical scientists not elsewhere classified
Source: Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Occupations and Appendix Immigration Salary List (GOV.UK)Data as at 11 Nov 2025

Sponsored work visas, minor group 211

Home Office grants for SOC 2020 minor group 211 (Natural and Social Science Professionals); unit-group detail is published only for part of the data.

Visas granted by year (minor group)

1,3402,680202120222023202420252026
1,3402,680202120222023202420252026
Data table
20212,272
20222,680
20232,255
20242,169
20252,032
2026868
By route
  1. Skilled Worker7,231
  2. Government Authorised Exchange (previously Tier 5)4,307
  3. Health and Care Worker436
  4. Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility)156
  5. Charity Worker (previously Tier 5)73
  6. Intra-company Transfer44
By nationality, unit group 2114 (where published)
  1. Italy27
  2. United States18
  3. France16
  4. Norway12
  5. China11
  6. India9
  7. Germany8
  8. Brazil7
  9. Spain7
  10. Egypt6
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at Jun 2026

Compared with other occupations

The going rate for Physical scientists (Table 1 where listed) is £54,600 a year, #25 highest of 277 eligible occupations and 82.0% above the median going rate of £30,000.

Going rate (Table 1 where listed)
£54,600
Median going rate, all occupations
£30,000
Rank (highest first)
25 of 277
Occupations on the Immigration Salary List
25
Going rate (Table 1), this and related occupations, £ a year
  1. Physical scientists54,600
  2. Chemical scientists39,900
  3. Biological scientists40,300
  4. Biochemists and biomedical scientists45,900
  5. Social and humanities scientists40,400
  6. Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classifiedNote: For Skilled Worker purposes, SOC 2020 occupation code 2119 includes researchers in research organisations other than universities.41,500
  7. Civil engineers50,400
  8. Mechanical engineers46,800
  9. Electrical engineers58,700
  10. Electronics engineers52,000
  11. Production and process engineers45,000
Source: Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Occupations and Appendix Immigration Salary List (GOV.UK)Data as at 11 Nov 2025

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more