What changed for UK work visas in 2025?
The UK now uses the Immigration Salary List (ISL), which replaced the old Shortage Occupation List in April 2024. For Skilled Worker visas, the general salary threshold rose on 22 July 2025. In short, offers now need to clear higher pay bars unless your job code has a permitted lower threshold. DavidsonMorris | Solicitors+1Mayer Brown
Key salary rules at a glance (2025)
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Skilled Worker visa: general threshold £41,700 or the full “going rate” for your SOC code, whichever is higher. Effective 22 July 2025. Mayer BrownDavidsonMorris | Solicitors
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Health and Care Worker visa: most pay-scale roles still use £25,000 as the headline threshold (or the going rate if higher). NHS Employers
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ISL roles: some occupations get reduced skills/salary thresholds under the Immigration Salary List but still must meet their specific going rates and conditions. GOV.UK+1
Tip: “Tier 2” is a legacy term. Modern content should say Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker to match current rules. GOV.UK
Who this guide helps
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Senior professionals targeting £100k–£150k base pay in tech, finance, consulting, healthcare, engineering, and construction.
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Applicants with confirmed job offers from licensed sponsors who will issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). GOV.UK+1
Eligibility requirements (plain checklist)
You’ll typically need:
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A job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor. Use the official Register of Licensed Sponsors to verify the employer. GOV.UK
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The role must meet the skill level and salary rules for the visa route and SOC code. GOV.UK
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English language and maintenance requirements, plus clean checks as required by UKVI guidance. GOV.UK
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For Health and Care roles, check the national pay scales and visa specifics. GOV.UKNHS Employers
Always read the live GOV.UK pages for your route before you apply, since figures and lists can change during the year. GOV.UK+1
£100,000+High Paying Jobs in the United Kingdom roles with sponsorship potential in 2025
Six-figure salaries cluster in London and other major hubs. Here are common roles where base pay can reach or exceed £100k, along with reliable sources so you can sanity-check ranges. Salaries vary by firm, location, and seniority.
Technology & Data
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Solutions Architect / Cloud Architect — often £100k–£120k in London. Morgan McKinley
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SAP Solutions Architect — ~£95k–£100k+, with higher packages at enterprise firms. Morgan McKinley
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Senior Software Engineer / Engineering Lead — six-figure packages are common at top tech and finance firms (cross-check with Hays 2025 guides). Hays UKsalary-guide.hays.co.uk
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Data Engineering Lead / AI Engineer / ML Engineer — total comp can break £100k at scale-ups and banks; confirm with current market reports (Hays & agency guides). Hays UK
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Cyber Security (Lead/Architect) — mid to senior bands can approach or clear £100k in London. Morgan McKinleyGlassdoor
Finance & Consulting
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Investment Banking (Associate/VP) — associates in London frequently cross £100k base plus bonus at many firms. GlassdoorMergers & Inquisitions
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Actuarial, Risk, Quant, Strategy Consulting (Senior) — six-figure bands at top shops; check current salary guides for your niche. Hays UK
Healthcare
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NHS Consultant — basic salary £109,725–£145,478 from 1 April 2025 (ex-London weighting and awards). NHS EmployersNHS Health Careers
Engineering & Built Environment
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Senior Civil Engineer, Principal / Project Manager, Quantity Surveyor (Major Projects) — six-figure packages at tier-one contractors are possible in London and the South East; verify live bands via recruiting guides. Hays UK
Note on sponsorship: many high-paying employers hold a sponsor licence, but not all vacancies are sponsored. Check the register and confirm the CoS in writing. GOV.UK
Where to find roles “hiring now”
Use official and reputable sources that let you filter for sponsorship or cross-check employer status.
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Find a job (DWP) — government job board; search “visa sponsorship,” then filter by category and location. Good signal for current hiring across the UK. GOV.UKFind a Job+1
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Teaching Vacancies (GOV.UK) — has a “Only show jobs with visa sponsorship” filter. teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk
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Civil Service Jobs — central government roles; read each listing for sponsorship notes. civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
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Official Register of Licensed Sponsors — verify the employer before you apply. GOV.UK
Today is September 3, 2025. Many firms are advertising immediate start or September/October intake roles now. Check weekly so you don’t miss rolling deadlines. Find a Job
Salary ranges (what counts as “£100k+”)
Here’s a practical view using today’s market guides and official pay scales:
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NHS Consultants: £109,725–£145,478 base. NHS Health Careers
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Solutions Architect (London): typical £100k–£120k. Morgan McKinley
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IB Associate (London): six-figure base is normal, with higher total comp at top banks. Glassdoor
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SAP Solutions Architect: ~£95k–£100k+. Morgan McKinley
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Security / InfoSec (Senior): upper quartiles can approach or exceed £100k; confirm with live market data. Glassdoor
Always read the visa salary threshold rules alongside market pay. Your offer must meet both the role’s going rate and the visa threshold. GOV.UK+1
Step-by-step: how to apply for a six-figure UK job with sponsorship
1) Target the right employers
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Download the Register of Licensed Sponsors (Workers) from GOV.UK and shortlist firms in your sector and city. GOV.UK
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Cross-match with current listings on Find a job and well-known boards for “visa sponsorship” and “immediate start”. GOV.UKFind a Job
2) Match your job code and salary
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Identify the correct SOC occupation code and review the going rate.
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Confirm your base salary meets the 2025 thresholds (e.g., £41,700 general Skilled Worker rule from July 22, 2025). Mayer Brown
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If the role appears on the Immigration Salary List, read the small print; reduced thresholds do not remove the need to meet the going rate. GOV.UK
3) Prepare a sponsor-ready CV
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Put job title, impact, and tools at the top.
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Show hard numbers: revenue saved, uptime improved, patients served, projects delivered.
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Mirror the words in the job ad, keep it clean, two pages max for most fields.
4) Apply early, follow the employer’s process
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Submit the online application with a focused cover letter.
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If asked for right-to-work details, select “Require Skilled Worker sponsorship.”
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Keep records: job ID, recruiter name, date applied.
5) Confirm sponsorship in writing
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After interview, ask HR to confirm the plan to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship and the exact SOC code and salary.
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Do not resign or move until you have the CoS and a visa decision.
6) Visa application basics
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The employer issues the CoS.
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You apply for the Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa on GOV.UK and submit required documents. GOV.UK
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Read the sponsor guidance and applicant pages for latest forms and fee notes. GOV.UK
Timing, deadlines, and “hiring now” signals
High-paying employers recruit year-round, but September–November often sees a new wave of senior vacancies and backfills after summer. On public boards you’ll find “hiring now,” “apply now,” “immediate start,” and “September 2025” language on live ads. Treat these as rolling windows, not fixed cut-offs, unless a listing gives a clear closing date. Find a Job
How to check if a job is real and sponsored
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Verify the employer against the Register of Licensed Sponsors. If not listed, it’s not a valid sponsor for this route. GOV.UK
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The offer letter should name the SOC code, base salary, and state that the employer will issue a CoS.
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Never pay for a job offer. UK sponsors do not sell Certificates of Sponsorship.
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If unsure, read the official employer pages on GOV.UK about sponsor duties and the licence system. GOV.UK
City spotlight
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London: deepest pool for tech, finance, consulting, and NHS trusts with specialist services. Six-figure offers most common here. Salary guides back this up for architecture, security, and banking roles. Morgan McKinleyGlassdoor
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Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol: strong for engineering, fintech, consulting, dev and data roles; six-figure pay appears more at principal or lead level. Hays UK
High-value support topics that boost approvals (and your research quality)
These related searches bring useful info and often connect you with expert help:
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Immigration lawyers/solicitors for Skilled Worker visa and sponsor license compliance advice. Fees and services vary; read reputable legal explainers and check the SRA where relevant. Richmond Chambers
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Sponsor licence application and compliance for employers who want to hire you. Many firms use the GOV.UK guidance to set up or renew a licence. GOV.UK
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Health and Care visa pay scales and NHS consultant pay updates if you work in medicine. NHS EmployersNHS Health Careers
Common mistakes that block £100k High Paying Jobs in the United Kingdom offers from turning into visas
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Using the wrong SOC code in the offer or CoS. Always confirm the code matches your duties. GOV.UK
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Salary below going rate even if the headline threshold is met. Both must be satisfied. GOV.UK
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Assuming every high-paying firm sponsors. Many do, some don’t. Check the register. GOV.UK
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Missing rolling deadlines. Corporate portals close early when pipelines fill. Use job alerts on Find a job and employer sites. GOV.UK
Sample weekly action plan (works for busy professionals)
Monday: shortlist 25 licensed sponsors in your sector and city. GOV.UK
Tuesday: apply to 5 roles that match your profile and salary target on Find a job and employer sites. GOV.UK
Wednesday: reach out to in-house recruiters on LinkedIn with a short note about sponsorship needs and availability.
Thursday: prep for technical or case interviews; match stories to the job description.
Friday: follow up with any HR contacts; request written confirmation of sponsorship where interviews went well.
Weekend: review new postings labeled “hiring now,” “immediate start,” “September/October intake.” Find a Job
FAQs
Do I need £100k to qualify for Skilled Worker?
No. The visa has thresholds like £41,700 (from July 22, 2025) or the full going rate, whichever is higher. We focus on £100k+ because that’s your goal, not because it’s a rule. Mayer Brown
What is the Immigration Salary List?
It’s the current list that replaced the old Shortage Occupation List. Some codes on the ISL have adjusted thresholds, but you still need to meet the going rate for that code. DavidsonMorris | SolicitorsGOV.UK
Can Health and Care roles pay £100k?
Consultant-level roles do, based on the 2025 pay circular and NHS guidance. Junior roles do not. NHS EmployersNHS Health Careers
Where can I find live, sponsored jobs today?
Start with www.gov.uk/find-a-job, then filter or search for “visa sponsorship.” Cross-check the employer in the Register of Licensed Sponsors. GOV.UK+1
Do banks and big tech still sponsor?
Yes, but it depends on the team and year. Check each listing, and verify sponsorship with HR before you count on it. GOV.UK
Safe, official links (bookmark these)
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Skilled Worker visa: Immigration Salary List (ISL) — www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list GOV.UK
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ISL details & going-rate note — www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list GOV.UK
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Sponsor guidance (employers) — www.gov.uk/government/collections/sponsorship-information-for-employers-and-educators GOV.UK
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Register of Licensed Sponsors (Workers) — www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers GOV.UK
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Find a job (DWP) — www.gov.uk/find-a-job GOV.UK
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Teaching Vacancies — teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk (filter by visa sponsorship) teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk
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Health and Care Worker visa salary rules — www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/different-salary-requirements GOV.UK
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NHS Consultants pay (2025 updates) — www.nhsemployers.org/system/files/2025-06/Pay-and-Conditions-Circular-MD-2-2025_0.pdf and www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/pay-doctors NHS EmployersNHS Health Careers
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Skilled Worker: your job & salary rules — www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job GOV.UK
Conclusion
Six-figure jobs in the UK exist across tech, finance, consulting, healthcare, engineering, and construction. The 2025 salary rules raise the bar for Skilled Worker visas, so your offer must meet the new £41,700 general threshold and the full going rate, unless a valid ISL concession applies. Start with licensed sponsors, search roles that are hiring now, confirm the CoS in writing, and apply early. The links above are all official, so you can move fast with confidence. Mayer BrownGOV.UK+2GOV.UK
