Career change as a warehouse logistics specialist

Career change paths

• Dispatcher

  Also: Shipping dispatcher, Route planner

  With on-the-job training

  In dispatching you plan routes, vehicles and delivery dates, and coordinate with drivers, the warehouse and customers.

  What you bring:

  You know loading times, shipping documents, packaging and the typical bottlenecks at the loading dock.

  How to get there:

  This is an internal switch to shipping or transport dispatching, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) that usually lasts a few months, often with a course for dispatchers. With a qualification as warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) you have good prerequisites for this. Some freight forwarders also expect commercial training.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightIn an office

  €3,917gross per monthMedian salary

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• Purchasing planner

  Also: Purchasing clerk

  With on-the-job training

  In purchasing you order goods, collect quotes, monitor delivery dates and clarify complaints with suppliers.

  What you bring:

  You know suppliers, delivery reliability, minimum stock levels and shortages from goods receipt.

  How to get there:

  This is an internal switch to purchasing or dispatching, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) that usually lasts a few weeks to a few months. A commercial qualification is often expected. Later, you can take part-time further training in purchasing at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,200gross per monthMedian salary

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• Materials planner

  Also: Production planner

  With on-the-job training

  In the materials planning of an industrial company you plan when each material has to be ready for production, and you reorder it.

  What you bring:

  You know stock, warehouse management systems and the consequences of missing parts from your own experience.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the materials management of an industrial company, usually lasting a few weeks to a few months, with training in the ERP system. Warehouse staff often switch internally from the plant warehouse.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,873gross per monthMedian salary

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• Quality inspector

  Also: Goods inspector

  With on-the-job training

  In quality inspection you check goods and components according to inspection plans, measure them and document the results.

  What you bring:

  You check quantities, damage and labels at goods receipt and document deviations carefully.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the quality assurance of an industrial or trading company, usually lasting a few weeks, often with training in measuring instruments and testing methods. Technical understanding is needed.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact

  €4,159gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse manager

  Also: Shift leader in logistics, Logistics master (Logistikmeister)

  With further trainingPromotion

  As shift or warehouse manager you plan staff, space and processes, and you are responsible for stock and occupational safety.

  What you bring:

  You know all the processes from goods receipt through order picking to shipping, and you know where errors and waiting times arise.

  How to get there:

  You usually get there through working as a lead worker or in shift leadership. Alongside your job, you can take the further training course for certified logistics master (Logistikmeister) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). It can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). With a qualification as warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) or warehouse specialist (Fachlagerist) you are admitted directly to the first part of the exam, and to the second part after one year of work experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €4,707gross per monthMedian salary

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• Freight forwarding and logistics services clerk (Kaufmann für Spedition und Logistikdienstleistung)

  Also: Export and customs clerk

  With retrainingPromotion

  As a freight forwarding clerk you calculate transports, write quotes, organize shipments, and take care of customs and export.

  What you bring:

  You know shipping documents, packaging regulations and shipping processes from hands-on experience.

  How to get there:

  You can do retraining (Umschulung) as freight forwarding and logistics services clerk (Kaufmann für Spedition und Logistikdienstleistung), which usually takes two years. If you already have a vocational qualification, the Federal Employment Agency (Arbeitsagentur) funds the retraining through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) only if it is necessary, for example when unemployment threatens. For customs and export there are additional courses lasting a few days to a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightIn an office

  €3,917gross per monthMedian salary

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• Professional driver (Berufskraftfahrer)

  Also: Truck driver

  With further training

  As a truck driver you bring the goods to the customer yourself and work largely independently on the road.

  What you bring:

  You know loading and unloading, load securing, shipping documents and often also dangerous goods rules from the warehouse.

  How to get there:

  You need a class C or CE driving license plus the accelerated basic qualification (140 hours of classes), which ends with an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). This usually takes a few months in total and can often be funded through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Alternatively, you can do vocational training (Ausbildung) as professional driver (Berufskraftfahrer), which takes three years.*Regulated by law (Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV), Driving License Ordinance (FeV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift work

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Trainer for warehouse logistics

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a trainer you guide apprentices through their vocational training (Ausbildung), plan learning stations and prepare them for the exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

  What you bring:

  You know every area of the warehouse, train new colleagues on the job and explain processes clearly.

  How to get there:

  Alongside your qualification as warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) and work experience, you need the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung) under § 30 BBiG, which you prove in an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Preparation courses are optional, and their length depends on the provider. Full-time trainer jobs exist mainly in large logistics companies; otherwise, training is often an additional task.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,462gross 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.