3549 Business associate professionals n.e.c.

In short

• ONS unit group 3549, in minor group 354 (Business associate professionals) and major group 3 (Associate professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): Transitional tables only: Table 1a, Table 2aa.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1a, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £33,400 (£17.13 per hour)
  • Table 2aa, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £25,500 (£13.08 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Job holders in this unit group advise on the effectiveness of an organisation’s procedures, systems and methods and perform other business and related functions not elsewhere classified in minor group 354: Business associate professionals.

Typical entry routes

There are no formal academic entry requirements, although entrants typically possess GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades, a BTEC/SQA award or equivalent qualifications. Professional qualifications are available and may be required by some employers.

Tasks

• studies department or problem area and assesses its interrelationships with other activities
• studies work methods and procedures by measuring work involved and computing standard times for specified activities, and produces report detailing suggestions for increasing efficiency and lowering costs
• purchases services, receives payment from clients, processes contracts and deals with contractual arrangements
• canvasses political opinion, writes and distributes leaflets, writes and distributes press releases and other such material to promote the image and policies of a political party or election candidate, arranges fund raising activities, and organises and participates in election campaigns

Related job titles

• Business support officer
• Marine consultant
• Methods engineer
• O&M consultant
• Party agent (political party)

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1a: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

3549 Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Business support officers
• Business systems analysts
• Contract administrators
• Clinical coders
• Clinical trials administrators
• Research coordinators
• Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Table 2aa: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

3549 Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

3539

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Business support officers
• Business systems analysts
• Contract administrators
• Clinical coders
• Clinical trials administrators
• Research coordinators
• Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£25,500 (£13.08 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Other unit groups in minor group 354

• 3541 Estimators, valuers and assessors
• 3542 Importers and exporters
• 3543 Project support officers
• 3544 Data analysts

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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