Career change as an IT specialist (Fachinformatiker)
With your experience you can switch to 9 jobs in Germany: 1 right away, 7 with on-the-job training and 1 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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Software development team lead
Also: Head of IT
Start right awayPromotion
As a team lead or head of IT, you manage developers, plan projects and budgets and work with the business departments and service providers.
- What you bring:
- You know development processes, tools and typical project risks.
- How to get there:
- This move usually happens internally through a role as lead developer or project manager. Leadership seminars and experience in project management help.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€8,445gross per monthMedian salary
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Business analyst
Also: IT systems analyst
With on-the-job training
As a business analyst, you work out with the business departments what a piece of software should do, describe processes and translate them for developer teams.
- What you bring:
- You know how applications are built and where requirements fail in implementation.
- How to get there:
- Companies like to move experienced developers into analysis roles and train them in requirements analysis methods. A certificate such as the CPRE usually takes a few days plus an exam.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,568gross per monthMedian salary
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IT trainer
Also: Programming instructor
With on-the-job training
As an IT trainer or lecturer, you teach programming and software to people in retraining (Umschulung), trainees and employees.
- What you bring:
- You program yourself and can explain how code, databases and tools work together.
- How to get there:
- Training providers and training companies look for practitioners, often on a freelance basis or part-time. To train IT specialists (Fachinformatiker) in a company, you also need the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,449gross per monthMedian salary
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IT consultant for digitalization
Also: Process consultant
With on-the-job training
As a consultant, you help companies digitalize processes, select software and plan rollouts.
- What you bring:
- You know software from the inside and can judge what is feasible with reasonable effort.
- How to get there:
- Consulting firms and system integrators train developers in consulting and project methods. Expect client meetings and travel.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible€5,933gross per monthMedian salary
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Pre-sales consultant
Also: Solution engineer
With on-the-job training
In pre-sales, you demo software for customers, design suitable solutions and help sales prepare proposals.
- What you bring:
- You can demonstrate technical solutions and answer experts' questions confidently.
- How to get there:
- Software vendors train developers in the product and in presenting it, usually for a few weeks. Communication skills matter more here than deep programming.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleHome office possible€6,745gross per monthMedian salary
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Test manager
Also: Software tester
With on-the-job training
In software testing, you plan test cases, automate checks and ensure quality before every release.
- What you bring:
- You know typical errors and how tests fit into the development process.
- How to get there:
- Companies train developers in test tools and test methods. A certificate such as ISTQB Foundation Level usually takes a few days plus an exam. You can bring experience with test automation from development straight into the job.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,986gross per monthMedian salary
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Data engineer
Also: Database developer
With on-the-job training
As a data engineer or database developer, you build data models and data pipelines and make sure data is reliably available.
- What you bring:
- You work with databases, queries and interfaces every day.
- How to get there:
- Companies train application developers in database platforms and cloud services. Vendor certificates for these usually take a few weeks of preparation.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,796gross per monthMedian salary
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Network technician
Also: Technician for network and communication systems
With on-the-job training
As a network technician you set up switches, routers, firewalls and Wi-Fi, monitor networks, fix faults and document the infrastructure.
- What you bring:
- You know connection problems, Wi-Fi, VPN and network printers from support, and you track down faults step by step.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at IT system integrators, network operators or in your own IT department, plus vendor certificates such as Cisco CCNA, which usually take a few weeks to a few months to prepare for. At service providers, on-site assignments at customers and on-call duty are common.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact€5,667gross per monthMedian salary
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IT security consultant
Also: Penetration tester
With further training
In IT security, you test software for vulnerabilities, advise developer teams and support security audits.
- What you bring:
- You know coding errors, interfaces and application weaknesses from your own work.
- How to get there:
- To get started, certificates in information security or penetration testing are common, and preparation alongside work usually takes a few months. Companies also bring developers into internal security teams and train them there.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible€5,295gross 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 an IT specialist (Fachinformatiker) without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Business analyst, Software development team lead, IT trainer, IT consultant for digitalization, Pre-sales consultant, Test manager, Data engineer and Network technician.
Which retraining or further training suits me as an IT specialist (Fachinformatiker)?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: IT security consultant.
What promotion options do I have as an IT specialist (Fachinformatiker)?
Promotions include, for example: Software development team lead.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Software development team lead (€8,445 gross per month), Pre-sales consultant (€6,745 gross per month) and Test manager (€5,986 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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