Career change as a civil engineer

Career change paths

• Construction project manager

  Also: Branch manager of a construction company

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  As a project or branch manager, you are responsible for several construction sites, staff and the financial result.

  What you bring:

  You have planned or led construction projects and know calculation, change orders and schedules.

  How to get there:

  You usually make this move within your company or by applying to larger construction companies, after some years of site management. Leadership seminars and knowledge of construction law and contract management help.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,970gross per monthMedian salary

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• Policy advisor in the road construction or building ministry

  Also: Engineer in the building supervision authority

  With on-the-job training

  In building supervision, road construction administration or ministries, you review projects, steer public construction projects and help develop regulations.

  What you bring:

  You can professionally assess building applications, structural analysis and plans, and you know building law from practice.

  How to get there:

  Building administrations look for civil engineers and hire them as employees under collective pay agreements (Tarif), in some cases also through a traineeship (Referendariat) in the higher technical service. Working hours are usually more predictable than in an office or construction company.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sales engineer for construction products

  Also: Project advisor for building systems

  With on-the-job training

  At manufacturers of building materials, formwork or building systems, you advise planning offices and construction companies and support projects through to execution.

  What you bring:

  You know how planners and construction companies select products and which technical proof they need.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers give civil engineers product training over a few weeks to a few months. Expect field work and sales targets.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €6,758gross per monthMedian salary

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• Traffic planner

  Also: Planner for cycling and mobility

  With on-the-job training

  In municipalities, transport associations or planning offices, you plan bike paths, junctions and mobility concepts.

  What you bring:

  You know road design, traffic engineering and construction processes and can think about planning and execution together.

  How to get there:

  Municipalities and planning offices train civil engineers who have a traffic focus in traffic planning and participation procedures. Without a traffic focus in your studies, further training lasting a few weeks helps.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €6,354gross per monthMedian salary

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• Construction expert appraiser

  Also: Real estate valuation expert

  With further training

  As an expert appraiser, you assess damage, defects or property values for owners, insurers, banks or courts.

  What you bring:

  You know building construction, construction damage and construction costs and can substantiate defects professionally.

  How to get there:

  The usual route is part-time expert appraiser courses at chambers, academies or universities lasting a few months, often with certification. You become publicly appointed and sworn in (öffentlich bestellt und vereidigt) after the chamber has examined your special expertise, usually only after several years of experience writing expert reports.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people
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• Construction technology teacher at a vocational school

  Also: Teacher at a technical school for construction technology

  With a degree

  You teach apprentices in the building trades, future technical drafters or technicians.

  What you bring:

  You bring expertise in construction technology and construction site experience, which vocational schools need.

  How to get there:

  Depending on the state, engineers with a master's or Diplom degree are admitted through the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg), with a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) or a qualification alongside work, usually lasting one to two years. Each state sets the conditions itself, such as whether you need a second subject.*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

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• Fire protection planner

  Also: Fire protection engineer

  With further training

  As a planner, you prepare fire protection concepts, coordinate them with authorities and the fire department and monitor their implementation.

  What you bring:

  You know building materials, structures and building regulations as the basis for fire protection.

  How to get there:

  Part-time courses to become a planner for preventive fire protection at academies or universities usually take several months. The building regulations of each state set who may submit or check fire protection certificates independently.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €6,961gross per monthMedian salary

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• Occupational safety specialist

  Also: Safety and health protection coordinator (SiGeKo)

  With further training

  As an occupational safety specialist or SiGeKo, you advise owners and companies, inspect construction sites and prepare safety plans.

  What you bring:

  You know the hazards on construction sites, construction processes and how many trades work together.

  How to get there:

  For the occupational safety specialist role, you gain the safety engineering expertise (sicherheitstechnische Fachkunde) after your engineering degree and work experience, in training at statutory accident insurance bodies or recognized providers, usually lasting one to two years alongside work. There are separate courses for coordination on construction sites, lasting a few days to a few weeks.*Regulated by law (Occupational Safety Act (ASiG) § 7).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €5,574gross per monthMedian salary

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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.