Research and development (R&D) managers
SOC 2161 · Professional Occupations
Skilled Worker Eligible —
Minimum salary: £54,400.00/yr
(£27.90/hr)
Salary vs Visa Threshold
Market median meets the going rate.
Most job offers in this occupation should qualify.
10th Percentile
£33,154.00
25th Percentile
£42,237.00
Median Salary
£54,857.00
75th Percentile
£73,106.00
Going Rate (standard)
£54,400.00
Market Median
£54,857.00
Skilled Worker Sponsors
118,283 active employers are licensed to sponsor Skilled Worker visas.
003 Ltd
A
007 Taxi Limited
A
0086 Ltd
A
00Nation Limited
A
012 Global Ltd
A
01 ACCOUNTING SERVICES LTD
A
023 LTD
A
09 Care Limited
A
0xA Technologies Ltd
A
1000heads Ltd
A
1000 Trades Limited
A
100% HALAL MEAT STORES LTD
A
100 Percent Cornwall Ltd
A
100Starlings Ltd
A
10:10 Games Limited
A
10/10 MEDICAL LIMITED
A
1010 Restaurant @ The Blacksmiths arms
A
101 A+D Ltd.
A
101 Byres Road Limited
A
101 Harley Street LTD
A
Showing 20 of 118,283 sponsors. Search all →
Top Cities for Sponsorship
Cities with the most Skilled Worker sponsors.
1
London
Sponsors
33,777
2
Birmingham
Sponsors
2,877
3
Manchester
Sponsors
2,705
4
Leicester
Sponsors
1,334
5
Glasgow
Sponsors
1,229
6
Bristol
Sponsors
1,187
7
Edinburgh
Sponsors
1,060
8
Leeds
Sponsors
1,013
9
Nottingham
Sponsors
982
10
Ilford
Sponsors
911
Skilled Worker Visa Trend
Latest data: 2025 Q4
Visas Granted
13,795
Refused
1,718
Approval Rate
84.34%
YoY Change
-25.3%
Related Occupations
Similar roles you might also qualify for, sorted by lowest salary threshold.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary for Research and development (R&D) managers on a Skilled Worker visa?
The going rate for Research and development (R&D) managers (SOC 2161) is £54,400.00 per year.
The actual minimum you need is the higher of the going rate and the general salary threshold (£38,700 for most applicants).
How many UK employers sponsor Research and development (R&D) managers roles?
There are currently 118,283 active UK employers licensed to sponsor Skilled Worker visas.
Note: not all sponsors actively recruit for every SOC code — the count reflects total Skilled Worker licence holders.
Which UK cities have the most sponsorship opportunities?
The top cities by number of Skilled Worker sponsors are:
London (33,777), Birmingham (2,877), Manchester (2,705), Leicester (1,334), Glasgow (1,229).
Also see: Research and development (R&D) managers salary details