SOC 2020 · 6129
Animal care services occupations n.e.c
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
Immigration Salary List
Listed roles carry their own restrictions — check GOV.UK.
Shortage list conditions
Immigration Salary List: only racing grooms, stallion handlers, stud grooms, stud hands, stud handlers and work riders. Listed until 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 | £19,158 |
| 25th | £22,826 |
| 50th | £25,067 |
| 75th | £27,865 |
| Going rate | £33,400 |
| General threshold | £41,700 |
| Region | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 2025 | £19,158 | £22,826 | £25,067 | £27,865 | — |
| East 2025 | — | — | £25,241 | — | — |
| London 2025 | — | — | £29,120 | — | — |
| North West 2025 | — | — | £24,266 | — | — |
| Scotland 2025 | — | — | £23,955 | — | — |
| South East |
Job titles in this code
What the work involves
Job holders in this unit group care for animals held in kennels, stables, zoos and similar establishments, provide specialised training, grooming, clipping and trimming services for animals, and searches for and captures stray or nuisance dogs in public areas and perform a variety of animal care tasks not elsewhere classified in minor group 612: Animal care and control services.
Typical tasks
feeds, washes, grooms, trims and exercises animals
cleans animals’ quarters and renews bedding as necessary
houses, feeds, exercises, trains, grooms horses, dogs and other animals in preparation for entry to shows, races and other events
checks animals for illness, treats minor ailments or calls for vet if further treatment is required
meets prospective owners and advises on animal selection and animal care
patrols public areas to search for and capture stray or nuisance dogs, and transports captured animals to kennels
work alongside veterinary surgeons and nurses to provide vital nursing care to ensure the wellbeing of animal patients
Entry routes and qualifications
Entry is possible without formal academic qualifications, although some employers may ask for GCSEs/S grades. There is a variety of vocational qualifications available, including NVQs/SVQs in Animal Care at levels 1 and 2, in Dog Grooming at levels 2 and 3, and BTEC qualifications and apprenticeships relating to Horse Care.