Career change as a dietitian

Career change paths

• Quality manager in the food industry

  Also: Food safety specialist

  With on-the-job training

  At food manufacturers or caterers, you are responsible for hygiene concepts, recipe data and in-house controls, and you support audits.

  What you bring:

  You know food science, allergens, hygiene and labeling.

  How to get there:

  Food companies train nutrition scientists (Ökotrophologen) and dietetic assistants (Diätassistenten) on their quality systems. Courses on hygiene concepts and standards such as IFS usually take a few days to a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,327gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Head of kitchen in institutional catering

  Also: Catering manager

  With on-the-job training

  In hospitals, canteens or at caterers, you lead catering, plan purchasing and staff, and pay attention to quality and costs.

  What you bring:

  You plan diets, menus and nutritional values and know the processes in hospital or care home kitchens.

  How to get there:

  Providers and caterers train nutrition experts on the job in kitchen organization and inventory management. Without experience as a cook, you work closely with a kitchen team. Leadership experience is helpful.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,913gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Lecturer for nutrition in adult education

  Also: Course leader for nutrition at an adult education center (Volkshochschule)

  With on-the-job training

  As a lecturer, you teach at technical schools, at training providers or in courses for adults.

  What you bring:

  You can explain nutrition knowledge in everyday terms and motivate people to change.

  How to get there:

  Training providers, adult education centers and technical schools employ experts, often on a freelance basis. A course in teaching methods lasting a few weeks makes it easier to get started.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Specialist advisor for drinks and tube feeding

  Also: Medical device consultant for nutrition therapy

  With on-the-job training

  At manufacturers of medical nutrition, you advise hospitals, care homes and care services and train nursing staff.

  What you bring:

  You know malnutrition, tube feeding and nutrition therapy from clinic or practice.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers and homecare companies give nutrition professionals product training over a few weeks. If you also advise on medical devices such as feeding pumps and tubes, § 83 MPDG requires expertise (Sachkenntnis), which you meet with your training and the product training. Expect field work, and bring a driving license class B.*Regulated by law (Medical Devices Law Implementation Act (MPDG) § 83).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Health promotion officer at a health insurance fund

  Also: Prevention counselor

  With on-the-job training

  At health insurance funds or associations, you plan prevention programs, review course offerings and look after projects in daycare centers, schools or companies.

  What you bring:

  You know how nutrition, exercise and behavior work together and what people really put into practice.

  How to get there:

  Health insurance funds and associations train nutrition experts on the job in prevention law and project work. For officer positions a university degree is usually expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light
  View job

• Specialist editor for nutrition

  Also: Editor for health portals

  With on-the-job training

  At publishers, health portals or manufacturers, you write and check articles and recipes.

  What you bring:

  You can present nutrition topics accurately and clearly and put myths in context.

  How to get there:

  Editorial teams train experts with writing experience on the job, and writing samples are important. You can start freelance or apply for permanent positions.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €4,728gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Head of housekeeping in a senior care facility

  Also: Head of housekeeping and catering

  With on-the-job training

  In senior care facilities or hospitals, you manage catering, cleaning and laundry and lead the housekeeping team.

  What you bring:

  You know catering, hygiene and the needs of older or sick people.

  How to get there:

  Providers also hire nutrition scientists (Ökotrophologen) for housekeeping management and train them on the job in organization and staff planning. If you have training but no degree, further training as a housekeeping operations manager (hauswirtschaftliche Betriebsleitung) helps.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekends

  €3,996gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Workplace health management officer

  Also: Consultant for workplace health promotion

  With on-the-job training

  In workplace health management, you plan programs on nutrition, exercise and stress and evaluate them.

  What you bring:

  You can teach health topics in groups and support behavior change.

  How to get there:

  Companies, health insurance funds and service providers train nutrition experts on the job. Certificate courses in workplace health management usually take a few weeks to a few months. There are also positions at service providers that look after several companies.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office
  View job

• Clinical coder (Kodierfachkraft)

  Also: Staff member in OR documentation and revenue assurance

  With on-the-job training

  In coding, you translate operation reports and findings into diagnosis and procedure codes and make sure services are billed completely.

  What you bring:

  From the OR or anesthesia, you know procedures, anesthesia methods, implants and material consumption in detail and document every day.

  How to get there:

  You can start in medical controlling or billing at a hospital with on-the-job training. A course to become a clinical coder at a training provider usually takes a few weeks to a few months, also alongside work. Clinics value OR experience especially in surgical specialties, and the work is in the office and usually without shift work (Schichtdienst).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,447gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• OR coordinator

  Also: Head of the anesthesia or OR functional service

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an OR coordinator or head, you plan operating rooms and staff, solve bottlenecks in the daily schedule and pay attention to hygiene, documentation and profitability.

  What you bring:

  From the OR or anesthesia, you know the procedures, instruments, hygiene requirements and the cooperation of surgery, anesthesia and nursing.

  How to get there:

  You usually reach this role after several years in the OR, often through the deputy head position. Clinics and training providers offer further training alongside work for managing a functional unit or for OR management. The upgrading course for certified senior specialist in health and social services (Geprüfter Fachwirt im Gesundheits- und Sozialwesen, IHK) fits as a recognized qualification. With your health profession regulated by federal law, you are admitted after one year of work practice, and the course is eligible for funding through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €5,488gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Hygiene inspector at the public health office (Gesundheitsamt)

  With further training

  As a hygiene inspector, you check clinics, outpatient surgery centers, practices and communal facilities for the public health office and investigate outbreaks of infection.

  What you bring:

  You work every day according to strict hygiene rules, for example in the OR or in the diet kitchen, and know disinfection, sterility or food hygiene from practice.

  How to get there:

  You train in the public health service under state law, with theory at an academy or technical college and practice at the public health office, usually about 2 years depending on the federal state. Public health offices usually select applicants with completed training in a health profession for this.*Regulated by law (State law: training and examination regulations of the states for hygiene inspectors).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours

  €4,905gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Paramedic (Notfallsanitäter/in)

  With further training

  In the ambulance service, you treat people in an emergency independently at the scene and on the way to the clinic.

  What you bring:

  As an anesthesia technical assistant (ATA), you know anesthesia, airway management, access lines, emergency medication and the monitoring of patients from daily work.

  How to get there:

  You train to become a paramedic, 3 years with a training allowance. On request, the responsible authority can credit equivalent parts of your previous training toward the duration. For the ambulance, a class C1 driving license is often required, and the work is in shifts (Schichtdienst).*Regulated by law (Paramedic Act (NotSanG) §§ 8, 9).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,175gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann)

  Also: Nurse in the intensive care unit

  With vocational training

  As a registered nurse, you look after people throughout the day, for example on intensive care or recovery wards, and can later do specialist further training such as anesthesia and intensive care nursing.

  What you bring:

  From the OR or anesthesia, you know the care of patients before and after procedures, their monitoring, hygiene and the handling of medical technology.

  How to get there:

  You train to become a registered nurse, 3 years full-time or up to 5 years part-time, with a training allowance. On request, the responsible authority can credit an equivalent training for up to two thirds of the duration. How much is credited for ATA or OTA is decided case by case.*Regulated by law (Nursing Professions Act (PflBG) § 12).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,421gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

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.