Career change as an architect
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 1 right away, 4 with on-the-job training and 3 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Construction manager (Bauleiter)
Also: Construction supervisor (Objektüberwacher)
Start right away
As a construction manager at a construction company or general contractor, you steer construction sites, schedules, quality and subcontractors on site.
- What you bring:
- You know planning, tendering, construction sequence and coordination with the trades from your projects.
- How to get there:
- Construction companies and project controllers hire architects with experience in construction supervision directly. You work more on the construction site and less on design.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursLots of time outdoors€5,816gross per monthMedian salary
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Project manager at a general contractor
Also: Branch manager in a construction company
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As a project or branch manager at a construction or general contracting company, you are responsible for costs, schedules, contracts and teams for large construction projects.
- What you bring:
- You can oversee construction projects from planning to handover and coordinate many parties.
- How to get there:
- Construction and general contracting companies train architects with project experience on the job in cost estimating, change order management and contract law. The route usually leads through some years as a construction manager or project manager in the company.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light€5,970gross per monthMedian salary
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Urban planning office staff member
Also: Land-use planner (Bauleitplaner)
With on-the-job training
In the urban planning office, you draw up development plans, advise on building projects and support competitions and citizen participation.
- What you bring:
- You know building law and urban design, and you know how owners, politicians and administrators work together.
- How to get there:
- Municipalities hire architects for urban planning and train them on the job in planning law and administrative procedures. Some positions require a traineeship (Referendariat) in the higher technical building administration. Depending on the state, you may only use the professional title of urban planner (Stadtplaner) after registering with the Chamber of Architects (Architektenkammer).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office€6,354gross per monthMedian salary
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Project controller
Also: Head of facility management
With on-the-job training
On the owner's side, at housing companies, hospitals or corporations, you steer construction and renovation projects or are responsible for the operation of large building stocks.
- What you bring:
- You can steer the costs, schedules and quality of construction projects and know the perspective of planners and owners.
- How to get there:
- Housing companies, public owners and project controlling offices hire architects with project experience and train them on the job in their processes. You then hardly design anything yourself anymore, but you often have more regular working hours than in a planning office.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact€7,713gross per monthMedian salary
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Architect advisor
Also: Project advisor for building products
With on-the-job training
At manufacturers of facades, windows, roofing or flooring, you advise planning offices, help with tender specifications and details, and accompany projects through to execution.
- What you bring:
- You know how architects plan and tender and what information they need about products.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers specifically hire architects as architect advisors and train them in their products. A driving license and willingness to travel are expected. You work with targets, but usually with predictable working hours.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,550gross per monthMedian salary
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Energy consultant
Also: Energy efficiency expert
With further training
As an energy consultant, you examine residential and non-residential buildings, prepare renovation roadmaps and energy certificates, and guide owners through funding programs.
- What you bring:
- You know the building envelope, building physics and building services and can plan and explain renovations.
- How to get there:
- For funded energy consulting, you need to be on the federal energy efficiency expert list (Energieeffizienz-Expertenliste), which usually requires further training lasting a few weeks to a few months and regular refresher training. You can offer energy consulting as an employee or self-employed, also alongside your own architecture office.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€5,500gross per monthMedian salary
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Real estate expert appraiser
Also: Expert appraiser for building damage
With further training
As an expert appraiser, you value properties for banks, courts and private individuals or establish the causes of building damage and defects.
- What you bring:
- You can assess building fabric, building defects and costs and describe buildings clearly.
- How to get there:
- You complete further training in property valuation or building damage at academies or chambers, usually lasting several months alongside work, and then often get certified. You become publicly appointed and sworn in (öffentlich bestellt und vereidigt) after several years of experience and an examination of your special expertise by the responsible chamber.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people -
Teacher at a vocational school
Also: Teacher of construction technology
With a degree
At a vocational school or technical school, you teach future technical drafters, tradespeople or construction technicians.
- What you bring:
- You can explain building construction, building physics and planning clearly and know the construction sequence from practice.
- How to get there:
- Depending on the state, people with a master's or Diplom degree can teach construction technology through the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg). You then complete a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) alongside work, usually lasting 18 to 24 months. Each state decides which subjects are recognized.*Regulated by law (State law: teacher education acts and alternative-route regulations of the German states).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact€5,140gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as an architect without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Construction manager (Bauleiter), Project manager at a general contractor, Urban planning office staff member, Project controller and Architect advisor.
Which retraining or further training suits me as an architect?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Energy consultant, Real estate expert appraiser and Teacher at a vocational school.
What promotion options do I have as an architect?
Promotions include, for example: Project manager at a general contractor.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Project controller (€7,713 gross per month), Urban planning office staff member (€6,354 gross per month) and Project manager at a general contractor (€5,970 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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