SOC 2020 · 2122
Mechanical engineers (professional)
Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations from
Skilled Worker
Eligible
This occupation appears on Appendix Skilled Occupations.
Salary floor
£46,800
The going rate, £46,800, is the higher of the two.
Shortage lists
Not listed
This code is on neither the Immigration Salary List nor the Temporary Shortage List.
Salary the job must pay
A Skilled Worker job must pay at least the higher of the general threshold and the going rate for its occupation code.
Going rate (standard)
£46,800
General threshold
£41,700
Visa thresholds from
Minimum for this role
£46,800
Home Office going rates from
New entrants and some other cases can use 70% of the going rate, £33,400, subject to the lower general threshold of £33,400.
What this occupation actually pays
ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, full-time gross annual pay.
- UK pay for this occupation
- Going rate£46,800
- General threshold£41,700
View these figures as a table
| Percentile | Pay |
|---|---|
| 10th | £33,274 |
| 25th | £39,125 |
| 50th | £51,110 |
| 75th | £62,237 |
| Going rate | £46,800 |
| General threshold | £41,700 |
| Region | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 2025 | £33,274 | £39,125 | £51,110 | £62,237 | — |
| East 2025 | — | — | £51,744 | — | — |
| London 2025 | — | — | £58,482 | — | — |
| North East 2025 | — | — | £35,691 | — | — |
| Scotland 2025 | — | — | £38,478 | — | — |
Job titles in this code
What the work involves
Professional mechanical engineers undertake research, design and development, direct the manufacture and manage the operation and maintenance of engines, machines, vehicle and ships’ structures, building services and other mechanical items.
Typical tasks
undertakes research and advises on energy use, materials handling, thermodynamic processes, fluid mechanics, vehicles and environmental controls
determines materials, equipment, piping, capacities, layout of plant or system and specification for manufacture
designs and develops mechanical equipment, such as steam, internal combustion and other non-electrical motors for railway locomotives, road vehicles and other machinery
ensures that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards
organises and establishes control systems to monitor operational efficiency and performance of materials and systems
Entry routes and qualifications
Professional mechanical engineers usually possess an accredited university degree. After qualifying, periods of appropriate training and experience are required before membership of a chartered engineering institution is attainable. Incorporated engineers possess an accredited university degree, BTEC/SQA award or an apprenticeship leading to an NVQ/SVQ at level 4, followed by periods of training and relevant experience.