Career change as a bicycle mechanic
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 4 with on-the-job training and 4 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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Field sales representative for a bicycle manufacturer
Also: Dealer account manager in bicycle wholesale
With on-the-job training
In field sales for a manufacturer or wholesaler you look after bicycle dealers, present new products, train workshops and take orders.
- What you bring:
- You know bicycles, e-bikes, components and the problems in workshops first-hand.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers and wholesalers give experienced mechanics product courses over a few weeks as on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). A driving license class B and willingness to travel are expected. Look for permanent employment, because as a self-employed sales agent you usually work largely on commission.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€4,456gross per monthMedian salary
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Rehab technician at a medical supply store
Also: Service technician for wheelchairs
With on-the-job training
At a medical supply store or rehab specialist dealer you adapt wheelchairs, electric mobility scooters and walking aids, service and repair them and advise people with limitations.
- What you bring:
- You know frames, brakes, wheels and e-drives and can adjust them precisely.
- How to get there:
- Medical supply stores usually give bicycle mechanics a few weeks to months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), plus manufacturer courses. The work depends less on the season than in bicycle retail.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€2,953gross per monthMedian salary
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Expert for bicycle and e-bike damage
Also: Claims adjuster for bicycle insurance
With on-the-job training
As an expert or claims adjuster you assess damage for insurers, leasing providers or courts and write comprehensible expert reports.
- What you bring:
- You recognize crash damage, wear, assembly errors and material breaks on bicycles and e-bikes.
- How to get there:
- Training providers and associations offer courses to become a bicycle expert that take a few days to weeks. A master title or a lot of workshop experience is usually expected. Permanent jobs exist at insurers and leasing companies, and you can also work as an expert on the side.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours€5,261gross per monthMedian salary
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Fleet coordinator for company and rental bikes
Also: Dispatcher in bicycle service
With on-the-job training
At company bike providers, rental bike systems or cargo bike fleets you plan maintenance tours, coordinate workshops and technicians and look after customers.
- What you bring:
- You know what maintenance bikes need and how to plan repairs efficiently.
- How to get there:
- Providers usually give bicycle mechanics with organizational talent a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), and confident PC skills are expected.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically light€3,917gross per monthMedian salary
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Two-wheeler mechatronics technician, specialization motorcycle technology
Also: Automotive mechatronics technician
With retraining
In a motorcycle or car workshop you service and repair vehicles, use diagnostic devices and work on combustion and electric drives.
- What you bring:
- You know brakes, drives, chassis and e-drives and look for faults systematically.
- How to get there:
- You can usually move into motorcycle technology through a shortened vocational training (Ausbildung) or retraining (Umschulung); the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer) decides what is credited. For automotive mechatronics, retraining of usually a good 2 years is common.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demanding€2,764gross per monthMedian salary
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Master two-wheeler mechanic
Also: Branch manager in bicycle retail
With further trainingPromotion
As a master craftsperson (Meister) or branch manager you lead the workshop and team, plan purchasing and range and train new staff.
- What you bring:
- You know the workshop, sales and customers in the bicycle store and keep the overview even in the busy season.
- How to get there:
- The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the two-wheeler mechanic trade at the Chamber of Crafts takes usually a few months to a year full-time and longer alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). For your own business you generally need the master qualification or an equivalent entitlement; the Chamber of Crafts advises on this.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€2,917gross per monthMedian salary
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Instructor for two-wheeler mechatronics technicians
Also: Instructor in a bicycle workshop at a training provider
With further trainingPromotion
As an instructor you work in businesses or at training providers that train young people and job seekers in bicycle workshops and prepare them for exams.
- What you bring:
- You are skilled in repair and assembly and can explain and demonstrate techniques well.
- How to get there:
- In the two-wheeler mechanic trade, which requires a license, you generally need the master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) to train apprentices, and it includes trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung); the exam under AEVO alone is not enough there. Jobs exist mainly at training companies and at training providers with bicycle workshops.*Regulated by law (Crafts Code (HwO) § 22b, Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30 and Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO)).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact€4,462gross per monthMedian salary
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State-certified technician in mechanical engineering
Also: Development technician at a bicycle manufacturer
With further trainingPromotion
As a technician you work at manufacturers or suppliers in development, testing or quality assurance of bikes, components and e-drives.
- What you bring:
- You know bicycle technology, materials and typical weak points from many repairs.
- How to get there:
- You take further training at a vocational college (Fachschule) to become a state-certified technician (staatlich geprüfter Techniker), for example in mechanical engineering. It takes 2 years full-time or usually 4 years alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with a vocational qualification and usually one year of work experience.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact€5,261gross 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 bicycle mechanic without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Field sales representative for a bicycle manufacturer, Rehab technician at a medical supply store, Expert for bicycle and e-bike damage and Fleet coordinator for company and rental bikes.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a bicycle mechanic?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Two-wheeler mechatronics technician, specialization motorcycle technology, Master two-wheeler mechanic, Instructor for two-wheeler mechatronics technicians and State-certified technician in mechanical engineering.
What promotion options do I have as a bicycle mechanic?
Promotions include, for example: Master two-wheeler mechanic, Instructor for two-wheeler mechatronics technicians and State-certified technician in mechanical engineering.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: State-certified technician in mechanical engineering (€5,261 gross per month), Expert for bicycle and e-bike damage (€5,261 gross per month) and Instructor for two-wheeler mechatronics technicians (€4,462 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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