Career change as a fish farmer

Career change paths

• Fisheries warden

  Also: Employee in fisheries administration

  With on-the-job training

  As a fisheries warden you check anglers and fishing businesses, monitor waters and stocking measures and support the fisheries authority.

  What you bring:

  You know closed seasons, minimum sizes, fishing gear and the waters of your region exactly.

  How to get there:

  Fisheries authorities of the states and districts hire experienced fishers or appoint them as wardens, often after a course with an exam. Each federal state regulates the details in its fisheries law. You can work as a warden full-time or on the side.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of time outdoors

  €3,822gross per monthMedian salary

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• Employee in a fish smokehouse

  Also: Fish seller in specialist retail

  With on-the-job training

  In smokehouses, fine fish food businesses or specialist fish retail you process and sell fish and work on land with more regular hours than on the water.

  What you bring:

  You can slaughter, fillet and smoke fish and recognize freshness immediately.

  How to get there:

  Businesses give experienced fishers a few days to weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). An instruction under the Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz) at the health office (Gesundheitsamt) or from a commissioned doctor is mandatory. Such jobs exist, for example, on the coast, but also inland.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €2,767gross per monthMedian salary

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• Deckhand in passenger shipping

  Also: Deckhand on ferries

  With on-the-job training

  On passenger ships and ferries you moor ships, help passengers, keep the ship in good shape and support the ship's command.

  What you bring:

  You can handle boats, lines and knots, know weather and water and are used to physical work outdoors.

  How to get there:

  Shipping companies in passenger and ferry shipping give experienced fishers on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) on board; a medical fitness examination and safety courses are usually added. For tasks as an able seaman (Matrose) and later as a ship's master (Schiffsführer) you need certificates of competence, which you earn with sea time and exams.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with peopleLots of time outdoors
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• Service technician for boat and ship engines

  Also: Employee in a boat workshop

  With on-the-job training

  In shipyards, boat workshops and marinas you service and repair engines and technology of sport and work boats.

  What you bring:

  You maintain boat engines, hydraulics and net winches mostly yourself and know what breaks on the water.

  How to get there:

  Boat workshops and shipyards train technically skilled fishers on the job (Einarbeitung), and manufacturer courses for engines take a few days. For a qualification of your own, you can retrain (Umschulung) as a boat builder (Bootsbauer/Bootsbauerin) with a specialization in technology, which usually takes a good 2 years, if a company takes you on for it.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €4,911gross per monthMedian salary

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• Wastewater treatment plant worker

  Also: Plant operator at a waterworks

  With on-the-job training

  At wastewater treatment plants and waterworks you monitor tanks, pumps and measured values, take samples and keep the technology running.

  What you bring:

  You know water quality, oxygen, temperature and biological processes in waters from practice.

  How to get there:

  Municipal companies give people with manual skills a few weeks to months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), and standby duty is often part of the job. For a qualification of your own, you can retrain (Umschulung) as an environmental technologist for wastewater management (Umwelttechnologe/Umwelttechnologin für Abwasserbewirtschaftung, formerly Fachkraft für Abwassertechnik), which usually takes about 2 years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €4,070gross per monthMedian salary

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• Aquarium keeper at a public aquarium

  Also: Animal care assistant at a zoo

  With on-the-job training

  In public aquariums, zoos or research facilities you care for fish and other aquatic animals, clean tanks and monitor the technology.

  What you bring:

  You know water chemistry, feeding and signs of illness in fish and work carefully and regularly.

  How to get there:

  Public aquariums and zoos often give fish farmers on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) for aquarium work directly, but the number of jobs is small. For a broader career in the zoo, vocational training (Ausbildung) as an animal keeper (Tierpfleger/Tierpflegerin) gives you a qualification of your own.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €2,820gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field technical advisor, fish feed

  Also: Sales employee for aquaculture technology

  With on-the-job training

  At feed manufacturers or technology providers you advise fish farms and pond farmers, present products and look after customers.

  What you bring:

  You know from your own practice which feed, technology and mistakes decide the success of a fish farm.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers and dealers give fish farmers product courses over a few weeks as on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). A driving license class B and willingness to travel are expected. Also look at manufacturers of agricultural and water technology.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sampler for water body monitoring

  Also: Water laboratory employee

  With on-the-job training

  In environmental laboratories, at water associations or authorities you take water samples, carry out simple analyses and document measurement series.

  What you bring:

  For years you have measured oxygen, pH and nutrients and know what the values mean for animals.

  How to get there:

  Laboratories and water associations give career changers with practice in water quality a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in sampling and lab equipment. For more demanding lab work, retraining (Umschulung) as a chemical laboratory technician (Chemielaborant/Chemielaborantin) gives you a qualification of your own.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact

  €4,317gross per monthMedian salary

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• Master fish farmer

  Also: Manager of an aquaculture business

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a master fish farmer (Fischwirtschaftsmeister) you lead a fishing or aquaculture business, plan stocking, production and marketing and train apprentices.

  What you bring:

  You know fish species, waters, water quality and fishing technique and know how a small fishing business makes money.

  How to get there:

  You take the master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the training occupation of fish farmer (Fischwirt) at the responsible body, prepared in courses at the few fisheries schools. You are admitted with a qualification and work experience. The further training can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding
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• Truck driver for refrigerated transport

  Also: Professional driver in local transport

  With further training

  As a truck driver you transport fish, food or other goods, and in local transport you are usually home in the evening.

  What you bring:

  You work independently, early and in any weather and know the cold chain and food hygiene.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE and the accelerated basic qualification with an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Together this usually takes a few months. Funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter approves it.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV) §§ 4 and 6, Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG) §§ 2 and 3, Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV) § 2).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Master fish farmer

  Also: Manager of a fish farm

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a master craftsperson (Meister) or farm manager you plan stocking and production, lead staff and take care of marketing and requirements.

  What you bring:

  You know rearing, feeding, water quality and fish health from daily work at ponds, tanks or recirculating systems.

  How to get there:

  You take the master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) as a master fish farmer (Fischwirtschaftsmeister) at the responsible body of the federal state, with preparation courses at a few vocational colleges. The preparation can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are generally admitted with a qualification as a fish farmer (Fischwirt) and several years of work experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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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.