If you are a skilled professional planning a move to the United Kingdom, six figure roles with visa sponsorship do exist across technology, healthcare, finance, engineering, and research. This guide explains the practical routes to get sponsored, the latest salary thresholds and rules that matter right now, the sectors most likely to offer one hundred thousand pounds and above, and how to structure your job search to win offers fast. It also includes an advertiser friendly, policy compliant structure with premium intent keywords to help your page attract high cost per click traffic from recruitment agencies, immigration lawyers, enterprise employers, and professional services.
Compliance first. UK immigration rules changed in 2024 and again in 2025. Salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker route rose in April 2024 and again in July 2025. Always confirm the rule that applies to your role and occupation code before you apply. The current government pages and reputable explainers used here are cited throughout.
What counts as a £100k visa sponsorship role
A one hundred thousand pounds package usually appears in three common scenarios.
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Senior or niche roles where the market rate greatly exceeds the Skilled Worker threshold. Think principal software engineer, machine learning lead, solutions architect, cybersecurity manager, consultant physician, interventional radiologist, head of data, quantitative analyst, strategy director, or senior solicitor in private practice.
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London based roles in finance, technology, management consulting, and life sciences where base plus bonus reaches or exceeds six figures.
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Experienced clinicians, dentists in private practice, and high demand healthcare specialists on salaried consultant contracts or mixed salary with private practice income.
The good news is that the UK immigration framework allows sponsorship at salaries far above the minimum. Your sponsor must still meet the general threshold and the going rate for your occupation code, but they can offer any higher figure the market supports. The rest of this guide shows you exactly how to navigate the routes that lead to these offers.
The main UK work routes that lead to £100k offers
1. Skilled Worker visa
This is the primary route for employer sponsorship. As of 22 July 2025, new Skilled Worker applicants must meet a general salary threshold of forty one thousand seven hundred pounds or the going rate for the job code, whichever is higher. Certain concessions exist such as new entrant or relevant PhD, but the headline figure increased this summer. Authoritative commentary and official updates confirm these thresholds and the rule changes in July 2025. Scotland’s Migration Service+2Boundless+2
Key checkpoints for a £100k job through this route:
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Sponsor licence. Only Home Office approved employers can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship.
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Occupation code eligibility. Your role must match a code that remains eligible after the 2025 tightening and the skill level increase to RQF Level 6. Some medium skill roles that were previously eligible no longer qualify. Scotland’s Migration Service+1
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Salary. Your offer must meet the new general threshold and the occupation specific median going rate. High end offers clear this by a wide margin, but ensure your contract reflects base pay and contracted hours correctly. GOV.UK
There is also an Immigration Salary List with lower thresholds for a small set of roles. For those roles, minimum pay is thirty three thousand four hundred pounds, but you must still meet the code specific going rate. This list was overhauled in 2025 and will be reviewed again. GOV.UK+1
2. Health and Care Worker visa
This route serves NHS trusts, GP practices, and approved healthcare providers. The minimum level is usually thirty one thousand three hundred pounds or the lower going rate, whichever is higher, with separate tables for occupation codes. Consultant level and specialist roles can go well past six figures through NHS pay scales with supplements and private practice opportunities for some specialties. The page describing the different salary requirements and employer obligations is here. GOV.UK+1
Important 2025 update. Overseas recruitment into some social care roles ended on 22 July 2025. Candidates should verify whether their exact role remains eligible before pursuing sponsorship. House of Commons Library
3. Scale up route
Scale up companies can sponsor for at least the first six months and then the worker gains flexibility to change employer. Fast growing technology or biotech firms in London, Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, and Edinburgh often pay premium salaries for senior talent, which makes six figure packages realistic. The Home Office sets a general threshold for this route and increased it in 2025. Check the current threshold and eligibility on the official page and reputable firm updates. GOV.UK+1
4. Global Talent route
Global Talent does not require a minimum salary and does not require sponsorship in the same way as Skilled Worker. Instead you secure endorsement through bodies such as Tech Nation successor arrangements for digital technology, the Royal Society for science, the British Academy for humanities, or Arts Council England for culture. Because there is no salary floor, employers may go as high as market rates to attract you. Official guidance confirms there is no minimum salary requirement, and the fee structure is listed on the government website. Jobbatical+1
Where the six figure offers appear on Global Talent
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Engineering leadership in cloud computing, AI infrastructure, and platform reliability
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Senior research scientists in machine learning, computational biology, and drug discovery
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Principal designers or product leaders with proven scale impact in top tier consumer or fintech platforms
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Distinguished academics with grants, citations, and lab leadership experience
The latest salary thresholds that matter to your application
Understanding thresholds helps you interpret job adverts and negotiate properly. Here are the levels you will see mentioned most often in 2025.
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Skilled Worker general threshold. Forty one thousand seven hundred pounds or the going rate for the code, whichever is higher. Scotland’s Migration Service+1
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Immigration Salary List. Minimum thirty three thousand four hundred pounds for eligible roles on the list, subject to the code specific rate, with the list updated in April and July 2025. GOV.UK+1
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Health and Care Worker. Usually thirty one thousand three hundred pounds or the lower going rate, whichever is higher. GOV.UK
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Legacy and transition notes. Some commentary also references transitional thresholds for extensions and certain sub routes in 2025. Always read the fine print on the Certificate of Sponsorship date and which rule set applies to you. Envoy Global, Inc
Why this matters for six figure seekers
If your target band is one hundred thousand pounds and above, these thresholds are not obstacles but compliance checks. Ensure your base salary clears the code median going rate and that bonuses are described separately unless the code allows guaranteed allowances to count. The safest approach is to negotiate a base that stands on its own.
Sectors with frequent £100k sponsorship offers
Enterprise technology and cloud engineering
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Staff and principal software engineers
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Solutions architects for multi cloud migrations
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Site reliability and platform engineering leaders
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Cybersecurity architects and incident response managers
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Data engineering and real time analytics leadership
These teams operate in finance, e commerce, telecommunications, and health technology. London and the Golden Triangle corridor host many of the sponsors. The candidate funnel commonly runs through retained executive search and large agencies that serve enterprise accounts. Six figure base pay with equity or cash bonus is common for principal level roles.
High intent search terms to use during your hunt
cloud computing jobs UK, data engineer jobs London, cybersecurity analyst UK salary, DevOps engineer sponsorship UK, immigration lawyer for skilled worker visa, certificate of sponsorship UK
Financial services and fintech
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Quant developers and risk modelers
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Portfolio managers and systematic trading researchers
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Chief information security officers
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Payments platform leaders and fraud data science managers
Investment banks, hedge funds, and fast scaling fintech firms compete for a comparatively small pool of senior talent. Offers often combine base, bonus, and carried interest for funds. Many of these employers are long time sponsors and maintain active licence status.
High intent search terms
investment banking jobs London visa sponsorship, financial analyst jobs UK sponsorship, fintech product manager UK sponsorship, professional indemnity insurance UK, business bank account UK for immigrants
Healthcare and life sciences
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NHS consultant physicians and surgeons
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Clinical radiology, anaesthetics, and emergency medicine specialists
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Principal biostatisticians and clinical data leaders
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Translational science and R and D program directors
Consultant level NHS roles command strong salaries with enhancements. Private providers and dental groups can also sponsor and pay competitively for experienced clinicians. For laboratory science leadership and principal biostatistics, look to global pharma and contract research organisations with established UK sites.
High intent search terms
healthcare recruitment agency UK, consultant physician jobs UK, clinical research director UK visa sponsorship, NHS jobs sponsorship, UK medical malpractice insurance
Engineering, energy, and advanced manufacturing
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Control systems engineering managers
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Principal electrical and power systems engineers
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Offshore wind project directors
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Battery manufacturing and process engineering leaders
Clean energy and modern manufacturing require scarce technical leadership. Sponsors include original equipment manufacturers, engineering consultancies, and energy utilities with major UK operations.
High intent search terms
electrical engineer jobs UK sponsorship, power systems engineer UK salary, renewable energy jobs UK visa, chartered engineer UK registration, employer of record UK
Where to find real sponsors and real offers
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The official sponsor licence list
Check that a company holds an active sponsor licence before you invest time. The licence allows them to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship. Always validate on government sources and cross check the occupation code match. Thresholds and eligibility changed in July 2025, and the government has reduced some eligible roles and tightened social care recruitment, so do not rely on older lists. House of Commons Library -
Enterprise recruiters and executive search
Retained search firms for technology, finance, and healthcare leadership handle many six figure mandates. Build relationships with partners and practice leads whose portfolios align with your niche. -
Direct employer talent pages
Large banks, cloud providers, pharma companies, and energy majors often advertise sponsorship explicitly. Search their career portals with queries that include sponsorship, Skilled Worker, or Global Talent. -
Professional bodies and endorsement pathways
If you are a research scientist, a designer with a significant portfolio, or a senior technologist, explore the Global Talent route. Because there is no salary threshold on Global Talent, the negotiation begins with your market value. Review the endorsement frameworks and evidence lists for your area. Jobbatical
How to package your experience for six figure offers
Build an evidence based portfolio
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Outcomes first. Demonstrate revenue impact, cost savings, reliability gains, or published clinical outcomes.
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Scale and complexity. Show the size of systems, budgets, teams, or patient volumes.
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Compliance awareness. Note experience with UK frameworks such as FCA for finance, NHS Digital and NICE for health, ISO and cyber standards for security, or OFGEM and grid codes for energy.
Align to UK occupation codes
Map your role to the correct code and show duties that match the description. This avoids delays when the sponsor issues your Certificate of Sponsorship and reduces the chance of refusal due to a mismatch with the going rate. The Skilled Worker pages explain going rates and how they interact with your salary. GOV.UK
Negotiate base before bonus
Employers may include allowances or guaranteed payments. The safest path is a base that meets the general threshold and the code median. If the package is a blend of base and bonus, ensure the contract wording leaves no doubt about compliance.
Show you understand current rules
A credible candidate speaks accurately about the 2025 changes, the immigration salary list, and the reduction of eligible roles in some sectors. Employers and recruiters take you more seriously when you demonstrate current knowledge. GOV.UK+2GOV.UK+2
Step by step pathway to a £100k offer with sponsorship
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Pick your route
Choose Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Scale up, or Global Talent. If your profile already includes national or international recognition, Global Talent may be faster and gives you greater job mobility. Jobbatical -
Create a sponsor first target list
Build a list of thirty to fifty employers that are known sponsors in your field. Include big brand names and mid sized innovators. Use your network to find the hiring manager or the senior recruiter who owns the requisition. -
Rewrite your CV for UK hiring
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Present a two page CV that emphasises outcomes.
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Include certifications and registrations relevant to the UK market such as Chartered Engineer, CISSP, AWS Solutions Architect Professional, or GMC registration for doctors.
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Add a short professional summary that mentions visa sponsorship, UK relocation, and immediate availability.
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Optimise your LinkedIn for recruiter search
Use premium intent keywords in your headline and About section such as Skilled Worker visa sponsorship, senior cloud architect, cybersecurity leader, NHS consultant physician, Global Talent UK, relocation to London. These improve search visibility for employers who filter for sponsorship friendly candidates. -
Prepare your numbers for negotiation
Know the market range for your role in London and in regional hubs. For six figure targets, present a range that reflects the premium you bring in experience and scarcity. Emphasise the stability and predictability of your contribution to the business. -
Secure the Certificate of Sponsorship
Once you accept an offer, the employer assigns a CoS with your occupation code, job description, salary, and start date. Double check every field against your offer letter. -
Complete your visa application
Follow the route instructions with care. The government pages outline the steps and documents required for Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas, including salary and code checks. Fees and processes for Global Talent appear here. GOV.UK+2GOV.UK+2
Sample outreach script for senior candidates
Subject: Senior data engineering leadership with real time analytics delivery for tier one banks
Hello Hiring Manager Name,
I lead real time data engineering and analytics at Company, where I designed a low latency streaming platform that supports X million daily events and reduced batch SLA from eight hours to sub fifteen minutes. The program improved risk visibility and cut processing costs by Y percent.
I am relocating to the United Kingdom and seeking leadership roles in London. I have led teams of twenty five across cloud migration, data quality, and governance. I am ready to join under the Skilled Worker route and can start in eight weeks.
Could we schedule a short call to discuss Principal Data Engineer or Head of Data Engineering roles and sponsorship with Employer Name
Kind regards,
Your Name
Embedded intent keywords
data engineer jobs London, cloud computing jobs UK, skilled worker visa sponsorship, immigration lawyer UK for employers, professional indemnity insurance, employer of record UK
Frequently asked questions for £100k visa sponsorship seekers
Is a six figure salary required for Skilled Worker
No. The legal requirement is the general threshold and the code going rate. Six figure packages are a market outcome, not a visa rule. Always compare your offer to the current general threshold of forty one thousand seven hundred pounds and the code median. Scotland’s Migration Service
Do bonuses count toward the threshold
Treat them as separate unless the rules for your code and contract structure state otherwise. The safest route is to ensure base pay alone meets the rule.
Are social care jobs still eligible
Overseas recruitment into some social care roles ended on 22 July 2025. If your role sits in this area, verify current eligibility before you apply. House of Commons Library
What if my sponsor quotes a lower salary than the going rate
You must meet both the general threshold and the going rate for your occupation code. If your salary falls below the code rate, you do not satisfy the requirement even if your base is above the general threshold. The government page spells out how this works and gives examples. GOV.UK
Are there any routes with no salary threshold
Yes. Global Talent has no minimum salary requirement. Your negotiation is based on market value and your endorsement. Jobbatical
I am a startup founder or senior researcher. Which route is best
If you can qualify for Global Talent, it offers the most flexibility to change roles and work independently. Otherwise, consider Scale up sponsorship for high growth companies and then pivot once your initial sponsorship condition is met. GOV.UK
Action plan for the next thirty days
Week one
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Finalise your route choice and confirm eligibility.
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Build a sponsor target list across your three strongest sectors.
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Rewrite your CV and LinkedIn with premium keywords such as Skilled Worker visa, Global Talent UK, immigration lawyer consultation, senior cloud architect London, cybersecurity jobs UK.
Week two
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Apply to fifteen roles with proven sponsors.
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Book two consultations with immigration advisers for a document check and salary strategy.
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Publish one technical case study on LinkedIn to showcase outcomes.
Week three
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Interview preparation with measurable examples.
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Shortlist recruiters who specialise in senior hires and sponsorship.
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Negotiate for a base that clearly exceeds the threshold and the going rate.
Week four
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Secure the Certificate of Sponsorship or endorsement letter.
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Submit your visa application with accurate documents.
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Arrange relocation planning, banking, and insurance.