Career change as a chemist
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 2 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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Technical sales advisor for chemicals
Also: Sales representative for laboratory equipment
With on-the-job training
At manufacturers or dealers, you advise laboratories in industry and research, demonstrate devices and look after customers in your region.
- What you bring:
- You know analytical instruments, chemicals and lab procedures from your own work and speak your customers' language.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers give chemists product training lasting a few weeks. Willingness to travel and a driving license class B are expected.*
* 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: Product safety expert for chemicals
With on-the-job training
In regulatory affairs, you make sure chemicals, cosmetics or crop protection products are registered and labeled correctly under REACH, CLP and other rules.
- What you bring:
- You understand substance properties, hazards and test methods and can assess data properly.
- How to get there:
- Companies and consultancies train chemists on the job in chemicals law. Courses on REACH and hazardous substances law take a few days to a few weeks.*
* 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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Hazardous substances officer
Also: Environmental protection officer in a company
With on-the-job training
As an officer for hazardous substances or environmental protection, you prepare risk assessments, advise managers and monitor emissions and waste.
- What you bring:
- You know hazardous substances, protective measures and measurement methods in detail from practice.
- How to get there:
- Companies train you on their plants and duties. To be appointed as an officer for emissions control, water protection or waste, you need recognized expertise courses (Fachkundelehrgänge) lasting a few days to a few weeks and, depending on the role, one to two years of practice at the plant.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact€5,263gross per monthMedian salary
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Plant manager in chemical production
Also: Production manager
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As a plant or production manager, you are responsible for the plants, staff, safety and yield of a production unit.
- What you bring:
- You understand reactions, processes and quality testing and can solve production problems competently.
- How to get there:
- In the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, this route is common for chemists with a doctorate, mostly via an assistant position to the plant management and a few months of on-the-job training. On-call duty can occur.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact€8,563gross per monthMedian salary
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Science journalist
Also: Specialist editor for chemistry
With on-the-job training
As a science journalist or specialist editor, you write for trade publishers, magazines or online media about chemistry, the environment and technology.
- What you bring:
- You can understand difficult research, put it in context and spot weaknesses in studies.
- How to get there:
- Trade publishers often hire chemists directly as specialist editors and train them in writing and editing. In general-audience media, the route usually goes through a traineeship (Volontariat). Besides permanent positions, freelance work is also possible.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€4,728gross per monthMedian salary
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Contaminated site and soil protection expert
Also: Environmental consultant
With on-the-job training
In expert offices or environmental authorities, you investigate contaminated sites and pollutants, write reports and help plan remediation.
- What you bring:
- You can analyze soil, water and air samples and professionally assess measured values.
- How to get there:
- Expert offices and authorities train chemists in sampling, environmental law and expert reports. Courses on contaminated sites and soil protection take a few days. If you want to work as an expert under the Federal Soil Protection Act, the respective state sets the requirements for expertise and official listing.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours€5,842gross per monthMedian salary
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Patent attorney
Also: Patent attorney candidate
With a degree
As a patent attorney, you file patent applications for inventions, defend patents and advise companies on intellectual property rights.
- What you bring:
- You understand complex chemical inventions and can describe them precisely and distinguish them from known solutions.
- How to get there:
- You need a natural science degree and usually one year of technical practice. After that comes about three years of training with a patent attorney, at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt) and at the Federal Patent Court, ending with a final exam. You learn the legal basics in parallel, often through distance learning.*Regulated by law (Patent Attorney Act (PAO) §§ 5 to 8).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible€7,756gross per monthMedian salary
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Chemistry teacher through the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg)
Also: Chemistry and physics teacher
With a degree
Through the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg), you teach at grammar schools (Gymnasien), comprehensive schools or Oberschulen and interest young people in the natural sciences.
- What you bring:
- You can plan chemistry experiments safely and explain them clearly.
- How to get there:
- With a master's or Diplom degree in chemistry, you can be admitted through the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg), depending on the state. You teach from the start and complete a preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) or a qualification alongside work, usually lasting one to two years. You often need a second subject, which, depending on the state, you have to prove or make up for.*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
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 a chemist without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Technical sales advisor for chemicals, Regulatory affairs manager, Hazardous substances officer, Plant manager in chemical production, Science journalist and Contaminated site and soil protection expert.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a chemist?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Patent attorney and Chemistry teacher through the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg).
What promotion options do I have as a chemist?
Promotions include, for example: Plant manager in chemical production.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Plant manager in chemical production (€8,563 gross per month), Patent attorney (€7,756 gross per month) and Regulatory affairs manager (€7,039 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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