Career change as a firefighter
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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Fire safety officer
Also: In-house fire protection specialist
With on-the-job training
As a fire safety officer (Brandschutzbeauftragter) in industry, hospitals or administrations you inspect buildings, uncover defects, draw up fire safety regulations and plan evacuation drills.
- What you bring:
- You know from operations how fires start and spread and what role smoke compartments, escape routes and fire alarm systems play.
- How to get there:
- You take a course to become a fire safety officer, following the requirements of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and insurers. As a rule it is at least 64 teaching units, with regular further training afterward. With your fire service training, you already bring a large part of the knowledge. Full-time jobs are mostly in large companies, hospitals and at fire protection service providers, often combined with occupational safety tasks.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact€4,969gross per monthMedian salary
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Fire service instructor
Also: Fire protection trainer
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As an instructor you train firefighters at fire service academies or, in companies, fire safety assistants and employees in using fire extinguishers and carrying out evacuations.
- What you bring:
- You are skilled in extinguishing technology, breathing apparatus, technical rescue and tactics, and you can demonstrate techniques with confidence.
- How to get there:
- Instructor jobs at fire service academies usually go to experienced staff with leadership qualifications, often at squad or platoon leader level. Fire protection service providers and training providers also hire firefighters as trainers for fire safety assistants and extinguishing drills, after on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) and sometimes a trainer course.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demanding€5,075gross per monthMedian salary
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First aid instructor
With on-the-job training
As a first aid instructor you teach employees in companies, driving license applicants and first aiders in courses, practice with training dummies and case examples and refresh their knowledge regularly.
- What you bring:
- You have often used first aid and emergency care on operations and can explain them in a practical and calm way.
- How to get there:
- You take a course to become a first aid instructor at an aid organization or an authorized training body, usually a few weeks in modules. A qualification in the rescue or medical service is generally required. Permanent full-time jobs are mostly at aid organizations and larger providers; you can also work freelance as an instructor alongside another job.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
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Field technical advisor, fire service equipment
Also: Product specialist for breathing apparatus and gas measurement technology
With on-the-job training
At manufacturers and dealers you advise fire departments, municipalities and industrial companies, demonstrate equipment, train users and support tenders.
- What you bring:
- You know fire engines, breathing apparatus, gas detectors and extinguishing technology from operations and know what matters to fire departments and industrial fire brigades.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers and specialist dealers of fire service and safety technology hire experienced firefighters and give them product training and on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) of a few weeks to months. A driving license class B and willingness to travel are expected. You gain business knowledge through training or further training.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€5,550gross per monthMedian salary
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Emergency dispatcher
Also: Dispatcher in an integrated dispatch center
With further training
In the dispatch center you take emergency calls, ask targeted questions, alert the fire service and emergency medical service and coordinate the operations by radio.
- What you bring:
- You know operational procedures, vehicles, equipment and radio traffic from your own experience and you know what matters in the first minutes.
- How to get there:
- You move to a fire service or integrated dispatch center (Leitstelle). Depending on the federal state, fire service training, often up to squad leader, and a qualification in the emergency medical service, in some cases as a paramedic (Notfallsanitäter), are required. On top of that comes a dispatcher course of a few weeks and on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the dispatcher stations. The work is shift work, but without breathing apparatus deployments.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office€4,175gross per monthMedian salary
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Paramedic
With vocational trainingPromotion
As a paramedic you lead care at the scene, carry out medical measures such as IV access and giving medication yourself according to set protocols and hand over patients at the hospital.
- What you bring:
- As a firefighter you often already have emergency medical service training and experience from operations with injured people.
- How to get there:
- Vocational training (Ausbildung) as a paramedic (Notfallsanitäter) takes 3 years full-time, with training pay or on duty at a professional fire department. On request, the responsible authority can credit another completed training or completed parts of training to the extent that they are equivalent, and it decides in each case whether and how much. Some professional fire departments train their own staff; outside the fire service, aid organizations and emergency medical services offer training places.*Regulated by law (Paramedic Act (NotSanG) §§ 5, 8, 9).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€4,175gross per monthMedian salary
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Dangerous goods safety adviser
Also: Dangerous goods consultant
With further training
As a dangerous goods safety adviser (Gefahrgutbeauftragter) you advise companies that pack, load or transport dangerous goods, monitor compliance with the regulations, train employees and write annual reports.
- What you bring:
- You know hazardous substances, labeling and how to handle dangerous goods accidents from operations and drills.
- How to get there:
- You complete training in a recognized course, at least 22.5 hours for one mode of transport, and pass an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The training certificate is valid for 5 years and is extended with another exam. Full-time jobs are mainly in chemicals, logistics and at consulting firms, often combined with occupational safety or environmental protection. The path suits industrial firefighters from the chemical industry especially well.*Regulated by law (Ordinance on Dangerous Goods Safety Advisers (GbV) §§ 4 to 6).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€4,200gross per monthMedian salary
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Service technician for fire alarm systems
Also: Installer of hazard alarm systems
With retraining
At an installation or service company you install, test and maintain fire alarm and alarm systems and look for faults when a system reports problems.
- What you bring:
- You know fire alarm systems, fire service control panels and key depots from operations and false alarms and know what must work in an emergency.
- How to get there:
- If you learned an electrical trade before joining the fire service, an installation company gives you on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) with manufacturer courses and a course of a few days to become a fire alarm system specialist under DIN 14675. Without an electrical qualification, you need to retrain (Umschulung) as an electronics technician (Elektroniker/Elektronikerin). That usually takes a good 2 years, and the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter can fund it.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demanding€4,000gross 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 firefighter without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Fire safety officer, Fire service instructor, First aid instructor and Field technical advisor, fire service equipment.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a firefighter?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Emergency dispatcher, Paramedic, Dangerous goods safety adviser and Service technician for fire alarm systems.
What promotion options do I have as a firefighter?
Promotions include, for example: Paramedic and Fire service instructor.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Field technical advisor, fire service equipment (€5,550 gross per month), First aid instructor (€5,254 gross per month) and Fire service instructor (€5,075 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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