Career change as a tiler
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 3 with on-the-job training and 5 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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Specialist advisor in a tile showroom
Also: Specialist salesperson for floor coverings
With on-the-job training
In specialist retail or the showroom you advise builders and tradespeople, plan bathrooms and rooms with them and put together offers.
- What you bring:
- You know which tiles and coverings are suitable for bathroom, kitchen, underfloor heating or outdoor areas and how they are laid.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in tile or flooring specialist retail, usually for a few weeks, often with training on bathroom planning software. Laying experience is a clear advantage there. The work is easier on knees and back, but you often work Saturdays in the showroom.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€3,122gross per monthMedian salary
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Application technician for installation materials
Also: Field technical advisor, construction chemicals
With on-the-job training
At the manufacturer you advise specialist businesses and dealers, demonstrate products on construction sites and clear up complaints.
- What you bring:
- You know adhesives, waterproofing, leveling compounds and grout from daily use and know where damage occurs.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training from the manufacturer (Einarbeitung) with product training, usually for a few weeks to months. A journeyman certificate and driving license class B are generally expected, and for application technology often also the master qualification. Look for permanent employment, because as a self-employed sales agent you usually work only on commission.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€5,550gross per monthMedian salary
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Caretaker
Also: In-house handyman at a housing company
With on-the-job training
As a caretaker or in-house handyman you keep buildings in good shape and also take care of smaller repairs, technology and grounds.
- What you bring:
- You can repair tiles and floor coverings, renew grout and get apartments ready again after a tenant change.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training from the employer (Einarbeitung). The journeyman certificate is an advantage, and for heating and electrics, building services courses of a few weeks help. The work covers a wider range of tasks and usually puts less strain on the knees, and on-call duty can come on top.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demanding€3,260gross per monthMedian salary
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Master tile layer
Also: Foreman for tile and floor work
With further trainingPromotion
As a master craftsperson (Meister) or foreman (Polier) you take measurements, calculate offers, plan assignments and check execution.
- What you bring:
- You know substrates, waterproofing, screed and types of flooring and know in which order the trades have to work in interior finishing.
- How to get there:
- The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the tile, slab and mosaic layer trade or in the parquet layer trade takes about one year full-time and 2 to 3 years alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are generally admitted with the journeyman certificate (Gesellenbrief). Both trades require a license, so for your own business you need the master qualification or an equivalent entitlement.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demanding -
Expert for the tile or parquet laying trade
Also: Claims adjuster for tap water damage
With further trainingPromotion
As an expert or claims adjuster you assess damage on site and write expert reports for courts, insurers or clients.
- What you bring:
- You recognize hollow spots, cracks, moisture damage and laying mistakes and know how they are properly fixed.
- How to get there:
- This usually follows the master craftsperson exam and several years of work experience. Chambers of crafts and training providers offer courses for experts alongside work. Insurers give new adjusters on-the-job training themselves (Einarbeitung). To become publicly appointed and sworn, the chamber must first check your special expertise.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people -
Plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning
Also: Bathroom installer
With retraining
As a plant mechanic you install and service sanitary systems, heating systems and heat pumps.
- What you bring:
- You know bathrooms from waterproofing to the finished tile and work closely with installers on construction sites.
- How to get there:
- Retraining (Umschulung) as a plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning (Anlagenmechaniker/Anlagenmechanikerin SHK) usually takes a good 2 years and can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). With a journeyman certificate, a shortened vocational training is also possible. Some bathroom renovators train tile layers on the job to install sanitary fixtures without a new qualification, but for heating technology the qualification is the rule.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically demanding€3,797gross per monthMedian salary
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Instructor in the tile laying trade
Also: Instructor at an inter-company training center
With further trainingPromotion
As an instructor you practice with trainees in courses and prepare them for the journeyman exam.
- What you bring:
- You are skilled in laying techniques, waterproofing and clean work in practice and can demonstrate techniques well.
- How to get there:
- The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the tile, slab and mosaic layer trade also includes trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung). It takes about one year full-time and longer alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Full-time instructor jobs exist, for example, at inter-company training centers of the construction industry.*Regulated by law (Crafts Code (HwO) § 22b).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact€5,075gross per monthMedian salary
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State-certified construction technician
With further trainingPromotion
As a construction technician you plan finishing work, prepare tenders and supervise execution for construction firms, planning offices or housing companies.
- What you bring:
- You know interior finishing, substrates, waterproofing and moisture protection from practice and know where trades get in each other's way.
- How to get there:
- The vocational college for construction technology (Fachschule für Bautechnik) takes 2 years full-time or about 4 years alongside work and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Access is usually with a journeyman certificate in a construction trade and at least one year of work experience; the federal state sets the exact rules.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours€5,500gross 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 tiler without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Specialist advisor in a tile showroom, Application technician for installation materials and Caretaker.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a tiler?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Master tile layer, Expert for the tile or parquet laying trade, Plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning, Instructor in the tile laying trade and State-certified construction technician.
What promotion options do I have as a tiler?
Promotions include, for example: Master tile layer, Expert for the tile or parquet laying trade, Instructor in the tile laying trade and State-certified construction technician.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Application technician for installation materials (€5,550 gross per month), State-certified construction technician (€5,500 gross per month) and Instructor in the tile laying trade (€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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