Career change as a biologist

Career change paths

• Pharmaceutical sales representative (Pharmareferent)

  Also: Product specialist for laboratory and diagnostic systems

  With on-the-job training

  In field sales for a pharma, diagnostics or laboratory manufacturer, you advise doctors, pharmacies or labs and look after your customers in a region.

  What you bring:

  You understand active substances, laboratory methods and study results and can explain them to professionals clearly.

  How to get there:

  With a biology degree, you meet the expertise requirements that the Medicinal Products Act sets for pharmaceutical sales representatives. Companies train you on the job with product training over a few weeks. A driving license and willingness to travel are expected.*Regulated by law (Medicinal Products Act (AMG) § 75).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Regulatory affairs manager

  Also: Regulatory approval officer

  With on-the-job training

  In regulatory affairs, you prepare approval documents for medicines, medical devices, crop protection products or chemicals and stay in contact with authorities.

  What you bring:

  You can evaluate scientific data properly, document it and defend it before experts.

  How to get there:

  Pharma, medical technology and chemical companies train biologists on the job in the regulations of their industry, often topped up with courses lasting a few days to a few weeks. A part-time master's program in regulatory affairs is possible but usually not required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €7,039gross per monthMedian salary

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• Food safety specialist

  Also: Hygiene quality officer in the food industry

  With on-the-job training

  In the food or feed industry, you monitor hygiene concepts, assess risks and support audits.

  What you bring:

  You know microbiology, hygiene and laboratory analysis and know how germs and contamination get into products.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers and testing labs train biologists on the job in hygiene and quality systems such as HACCP and the usual food standards, mostly with courses lasting a few days. With experience, you can also work as an auditor for certification bodies.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,755gross per monthMedian salary

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• Expert for nature and species protection

  Also: Nature conservation authority officer

  With on-the-job training

  In planning offices, you prepare expert reports for construction projects and wind farms; at nature conservation authorities, you review interventions and compensation measures.

  What you bring:

  You know species, habitats and mapping methods and can assess ecological data professionally.

  How to get there:

  Planning offices hire biologists with good species knowledge directly. Identification courses and certificates for individual species groups improve your chances. At authorities, you learn nature conservation and planning law on the job.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours

  €5,842gross per monthMedian salary

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• Data scientist

  Also: Data analyst

  With on-the-job training

  As a data scientist or data analyst in companies, clinics or research institutions, you analyze large amounts of data and build models for decisions.

  What you bring:

  You have analyzed experimental data statistically and often worked with R or Python.

  How to get there:

  With programming experience, you often get in directly. You can close gaps in databases or machine learning with online courses or courses lasting a few weeks to a few months. Pharma, biotechnology and healthcare are obvious fields to look at.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,500gross per monthMedian salary

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• Science communication officer

  Also: Press officer at a research institute

  With on-the-job training

  At research institutes, universities, foundations or companies, you write press releases, handle media inquiries and plan events and online presences.

  What you bring:

  You understand research from the inside and can explain difficult results in plain terms.

  How to get there:

  Research institutions often hire natural scientists with writing experience directly. Courses in science journalism or public relations help you get started. A traineeship (Volontariat) is possible but not always necessary.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible

  €5,318gross per monthMedian salary

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• Scientific officer at a project management agency (Projektträger)

  Also: Research funding officer

  With on-the-job training

  At project management agencies, funding organizations or ministries, you review applications in life sciences or environmental research, supervise funded projects and help shape programs.

  What you bring:

  You know research proposals, lab projects and peer reviews from your own experience.

  How to get there:

  Project management agencies and research funders hire natural scientists with a doctorate and train them on the job in grant law and procedures. Pay usually follows the collective pay agreement of the public service (Tarif).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Biology teacher

  Also: Biology and chemistry teacher

  With a degree

  As a teacher at grammar schools (Gymnasien), comprehensive schools or vocational schools, you teach young people and guide them through to their qualification.

  What you bring:

  You can explain biological relationships clearly and supervise experiments safely.

  How to get there:

  Depending on the state and the demand for subjects, you can enter through the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg) with a master's or Diplom degree and a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) or a qualification alongside work, usually lasting one to two years. Whether the alternative route is open in biology depends on demand in the state. With a second subject such as chemistry, more positions are open to you.*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 light

  €5,466gross 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.