10 High-Paying Hand Skilled Jobs in the UK for Immigrants (2025/2026)

If you’re a tiler, welder, carpenter, plumber, or electrician and dream of moving to the UK, this guide is your gateway. This blog post lists 10 high-paying hand-skilled jobs in the UK for immigrants with details on:

✅ Salary
✅ City of Demand
✅ Companies Hiring
✅ Visa Sponsorship
✅ Eligible Countries
✅ How to Apply.

 Why the UK Needs Skilled Tradesmen in 2025

The UK’s skilled trades sector is currently facing a massive shortage due to aging local workforce, Brexit-related exits, and high housing demands. According to the UK Home Office and CITB (Construction Industry Training Board), the demand for foreign skilled workers is expected to increase by 35% by 2026.

This labor shortage makes hand-skilled workers highly sought-after, and employers are now willing to sponsor Skilled Worker Visas to fill the gap.

What Are Hand-Skilled Jobs?

These are jobs that require manual dexterity and training , often trades learned through apprenticeships or vocational schools. Examples include:

• Plumbers

• Electricians

• Mechanics

• Tilers

• Welders

• Butchers

• HGV Drivers

• Carpenters

• Painters

• Decorators.

Many of these roles fall under the UK Shortage Occupation List, which means faster visa processing and reduced application fees.

Top 10 High-Paying Hand-Skilled Jobs in the UK for Immigrants (2025/2026)

1. Electrician

• City: Birmingham

• Average Salary: £37,000 – £50,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • Balfour Beatty

  • Mitie Group PLC

  • Kier Group

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes – Listed on the Shortage Occupation List

• Eligible Countries: Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, India, Kenya, Philippines, Bangladesh

Electricians are needed for industrial installations, building sites, and residential upgrades. Most jobs are full-time and long-term with benefits.

2. Plumber

• City: Manchester

• Average Salary: £32,000 – £46,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • British Gas

  • United Utilities

  • Pimlico Plumbers

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes

• Eligible Countries: Jamaica, Kenya, Uganda, India, Sri Lanka, Nigeria

The UK housing boom and climate-control upgrades have made plumbers one of the most in-demand trades.

3. Welder/Fabricator

• City: Sheffield

• Average Salary: £34,000 – £48,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • Tata Steel UK

  • AMRC

  • Liberty Steel

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes

• Eligible Countries: Philippines, Vietnam, India, Egypt, Ghana

Skilled welders are essential for infrastructure projects, especially in the industrial zones of Sheffield and Leeds.

4. Bricklayer

• City: London

• Average Salary: £38,000 – £52,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • Mace Group

  • Skanska UK

  • Laing O’Rourke

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes

• Eligible Countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, India, Bangladesh

London’s skyline is expanding rapidly, and bricklayers are integral to new residential and commercial builds.

5. HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) Driver

• City: Leeds

• Average Salary: £36,000 – £55,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • Amazon Logistics

  • Royal Mail

  • DHL UK

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes (High priority)

• Eligible Countries: South Africa, Kenya, India, Pakistan, Philippines

The logistics industry is desperate for qualified drivers. Sponsorship is available through licensed firms.

6. Tiler

• City: Glasgow

• Average Salary: £30,000 – £42,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • Travis Perkins

  • CBES Ltd

  • Buildbase

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes

• Eligible Countries: Ghana, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nigeria, Nepal

Residential and commercial remodeling projects are fueling high demand for floor and wall tilers.

7. Auto Mechanic (Automobile Technician)

• City: Liverpool

• Average Salary: £32,000 – £44,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • Kwik Fit

  • Halfords Autocentres

  • Arnold Clark

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes

• Eligible Countries: Nigeria, India, Kenya, Egypt, Pakistan

Vehicle technicians are needed across the UK, especially in used car servicing and electric vehicle repairs.

8. Painter and Decorator

• City: Bristol

• Average Salary: £30,000 – £43,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • Bell Group

  • Axis Europe

  • Wates Group

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes

• Eligible Countries: Nigeria, Philippines, Zimbabwe, Nepal

Interior and exterior painting contracts are abundant in the growing real estate and hospitality sectors.

9. Butcher/Meat Processor

• City: Leicester

• Average Salary: £28,000 – £40,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • Cranswick

  • Dunbia UK

  • ABP Food Group

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes – On shortage list

• Eligible Countries: India, Philippines, Ghana, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

The meat industry offers steady work and quick entry for trained butchers.

10. Carpenter/Joiner

• City: Edinburgh

• Average Salary: £34,000 – £48,000/year

• Top Companies Hiring:

  • Morgan Sindall

  • ISG Ltd

  • BAM Construction

• Visa Sponsorship: ✅ Yes

• Eligible Countries: Nigeria, Nepal, Kenya, Jamaica, India

Carpenters are needed for both structural and finish carpentry in construction and interior design.

How to Apply for These Hand-Skilled Jobs with Visa Sponsorship

Step 1: Verify Your Job is on the Shortage Occupation List

Visit the UK Government’s official list:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations

Step 2: Find Licensed Employers

Use the list of UK employers registered to sponsor workers:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers

 Step 3: Prepare Application Documents

• Updated CV (UK format)

• Passport

• Trade certifications (e.g., NVQ, diploma)

• IELTS score (usually 4.0 minimum for skilled work visa)

• Police clearance + TB test (if required)

• Offer letter from UK employer

• COS (Certificate of Sponsorship)

 Step 4: Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa

Apply via https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Visa Fee: Around £610 – £1,408 depending on circumstances
Processing Time: 3–8 weeks

Required Skills & Qualifications

 Countries Eligible for UK Skilled Worker Visa

Citizens of the following regions are eligible to apply:

• Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Egypt

• Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Nepal, Vietnam

• Europe & Middle East: Turkey, Ukraine, Lebanon

• Caribbean: Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago

• Latin America: Colombia, Brazil, Mexico

 Best Job Portals for Skilled Worker Opportunities

• Indeed UK

• TotalJobs

• CV-Library

• Reed.co.uk

• Work in the UK – GOV.UK

 Final Thoughts

If you’re a skilled worker looking to build a future in the UK, now is your time. The British job market is hungry for talent, and hand-skilled jobs offer a golden ticket to a well-paying, visa-sponsored career. Whether you’re laying bricks, fixing vehicles, or installing pipes, the UK has space for you.

✅ Apply early
✅ Get certified
✅ Polish your CV
✅ Reach out to UK-licensed employers

With the right approach, your hands could open the doors to a brand-new life in the UK.