Career change as a bus driver

Career change paths

• Traffic supervisor

  Also: Dispatcher in bus transport, Operations control center clerk

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  In dispatching and the control center, you assign drivers and vehicles, react to cancellations and detours and keep in touch with the drivers.

  What you bring:

  You know lines, timetables, vehicle rotations and the typical disruptions in operations from driving duty.

  How to get there:

  This is mostly an internal advancement within the transport company after some years in driving service, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) and in-house training. Some companies expect training as a specialist in driving operations (Fachkraft im Fahrbetrieb) for this. Without training, you can be admitted to the final exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) after 4.5 years of work experience (§ 45 para. 2 BBiG), and the IHK decides whether your driving experience is enough.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,807gross per monthMedian salary

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• Traffic manager at a bus company

  Also: Depot manager

  With further trainingPromotion

  As traffic manager or depot manager, you are responsible for drivers, vehicles and compliance with regulations.

  What you bring:

  You know driving and rest times, vehicle technology, duty rosters and the duties of a bus company from everyday work.

  How to get there:

  You usually first spend some years in dispatching or as a traffic supervisor (Verkehrsmeister). As the traffic manager of a bus company, you need the professional competence exam for road passenger transport (Fachkundeprüfung für den Straßenpersonenverkehr) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Preparation courses usually take a few weeks and are also available part-time alongside work. For other management tasks, the exam is not required. For those, the upgrading course to become a certified master craftsperson for motor transport (Geprüfte/r Meister/in für Kraftverkehr, IHK) is suitable. You are admitted to it without a vocational qualification after 4 years of practice, and it is eligible for Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*Regulated by law (Passenger Transport Act (PBefG) § 13, Occupational Access Ordinance for Road Passenger Transport (PBZugV) §§ 3, 4, Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €6,265gross per monthMedian salary

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• Driving instructor

  Also: Driving instructor for cars and buses

  With vocational trainingPromotion

  You safely drive a large vehicle through dense traffic every day, know the rules exactly and already have the driving license class D. As a driving instructor, you pass on this skill, in lessons and in the passenger seat.

  How to get there:

  Training takes place at a driving instructor training center. It lasts at least 12 months for class BE, with a practical part at a training driving school, and at least 2 additional months for the bus class DE. Requirements are a minimum age of 21, a completed vocational training or equivalent prior education and, for DE, the driving license class DE and class D for at least 2 years. If you only have class D, you acquire DE beforehand at a driving school.*Regulated by law (Driving Instructor Act (FahrlG) §§ 1, 2, 7).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,977gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train driver

  Also: Locomotive driver

  With further training

  In the driver's cab of a locomotive or multiple unit, railway technology and the railway rulebook come on top.

  What you bring:

  You are used to driving to a timetable, observing signals and regulations exactly and bearing responsibility for many passengers in shift work.

  How to get there:

  You qualify as a train driver (Triebfahrzeugführer) with a railway company or training provider, usually in about one year, and it is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). A medical and a psychological fitness examination are also required. Railway companies also train career changers themselves.*Regulated by law (Train Driver License Ordinance (TfV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,322gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train dispatcher

  Also: Signal box operator

  With training or an exam

  In the signal box, you regulate train movements on your section, set points and signals and make sure every train gets through safely.

  What you bring:

  You know timetables, signals and operations at a fixed interval and stay calm during delays and disruptions.

  How to get there:

  You qualify with the railway infrastructure company, usually over several months with theory, practice in the signal box and an exam, plus a medical fitness examination. The network operators specifically hire career changers for this. Round-the-clock shift work is part of the job.*Regulated by law (Railway Construction and Operating Regulations (EBO) §§ 47, 48).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €3,929gross per monthMedian salary

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• Professional driver in freight transport

  Also: Truck driver

  With further training

  In freight transport, load securing, loading and unloading and changing routes come on top.

  What you bring:

  You have experience with large vehicles, driving and rest times and departure checks and already hold the professional driver qualification for passenger transport.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE and the basic qualification (Grundqualifikation) for freight transport. Because you already have the qualification for buses, you only take the parts for trucks. In the accelerated variant, that is 35 teaching units. Together they usually take a few weeks and are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV), Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV) § 3).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demanding

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Automotive mechatronics technician for commercial vehicle technology

  With retraining

  In the workshop, you learn to find and fix these faults yourself.

  What you bring:

  You know bus technology from everyday work, do departure checks and notice when something is wrong with doors, brakes or engine.

  How to get there:

  Retraining (Umschulung) as an automotive mechatronics technician with a focus on commercial vehicle technology (Nutzfahrzeugtechnik) usually takes a good 2 years and is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Larger transport companies have their own workshops and partly train people themselves.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,527gross per monthMedian salary

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• Emergency medical technician

  Also: Paramedic

  With further training

  In the ambulance service and patient transport, emergency care and teamwork on the vehicle come on top.

  What you bring:

  You bear responsibility for many people every day, stay calm during incidents in the vehicle and know how to call for help in emergencies.

  How to get there:

  Emergency medical technician (Rettungssanitäter/in): a course under state law, usually 520 hours, about 3 months full-time. Paramedic (Notfallsanitäter/in): training of 3 years. For ambulances, a driving license C1 is often required, which bus class D does not include.*Regulated by law (Paramedic Act (NotSanG); emergency medical technicians under the ambulance service laws of the federal states).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,175gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train attendant

  Also: Customer service employee in regional transport

  With training or an exam

  On the train, you check tickets, inform passengers about delays, help travelers and take on tasks at departure and in emergencies, without driving yourself.

  What you bring:

  You know fares, tickets and passengers' questions and stay calm in the vehicle even in difficult situations.

  How to get there:

  You qualify with the railway company, usually in a few weeks to a few months, with an exam and a medical fitness examination. Shift and weekend work are part of the job. The change can make sense if you no longer want to or are allowed to drive yourself.*Regulated by law (Railway Construction and Operating Regulations (EBO) §§ 47, 48).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,568gross 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.