SOC 2020 · 3115
Quality assurance technicians
Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations from
Skilled Worker
Shortage list only
Below the usual skill level, but listed.
Salary floor
£41,700
The general threshold, £41,700, is the higher of the two.
Shortage lists
Temporary Shortage List
Listed roles carry their own restrictions — check GOV.UK.
Shortage list conditions
Temporary Shortage List: all jobs in this code. Certificate of sponsorship must be issued before 31 Dec 2026.
Shortage-list jobs are below the usual skill level, so employers face restrictions such as no dependants and no salary discount. Check GOV.UK for the current conditions.
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)
£33,400
General threshold
£41,700
Visa thresholds from
Minimum for this role
£41,700
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£33,400
- General threshold£41,700
View these figures as a table
| Percentile | Pay |
|---|---|
| 10th | £25,877 |
| 25th | £28,500 |
| 50th | £33,972 |
| 75th | £42,362 |
| Going rate | £33,400 |
| General threshold | £41,700 |
| Region | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 2025 | £25,877 | £28,500 | £33,972 | £42,362 | — |
| East 2025 | — | — | £27,324 | — | — |
| East Midlands 2025 | — | — | £32,307 | — | — |
| London 2025 | — | — | £35,890 | — | — |
| North East 2025 | — | — | £31,538 | — | — |
Job titles in this code
What the work involves
Quality assurance technicians perform a variety of technical inspections and testing and monitoring tasks to detect processing, manufacturing and other defects.
Typical tasks
sets up scientific, electronic, or other technical equipment to perform functional and inspection tests
analyses and interprets the results of tests undertaken and writes up reports upon completion
supervises the work of routine inspection staff and notes any defects reported
assists quality control engineers in undertaking production audits
liaises with production engineers and staff to maintain the quality of output and to develop quality management systems.
establishes product specifications
maintains equipment and systems used
Entry routes and qualifications
Entrants normally possess a degree, GCSEs/S grades, a BTEC/ SQA award or A levels/H grades. Training is typically received on-the-job, supplemented by training courses where instruction in specific techniques is required. Various industry-specific qualifications encompass aspects of quality control.