Career change as a master tiler
With your experience you can switch to 11 jobs in Germany: 5 with on-the-job training and 6 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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Construction inspector at a municipality
Also: Technical staff member in the building authority
With on-the-job training
In the building authority or at a state-owned enterprise (Landesbetrieb), you oversee public construction projects, check invoices and supplementary claims and inspect roads, buildings or pipelines.
- What you bring:
- You know how a construction site runs and what matters in execution, safety and billing.
- How to get there:
- Municipalities and state-owned enterprises hire master craftspeople, site foremen and technicians as technical employees and train them in public procurement law and administration. Positions are advertised publicly, and the requirements differ by federal state and authority.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact -
Technical property manager
Also: Technical building manager
With on-the-job training
At housing companies or property management firms, you look after buildings technically, plan maintenance, award contracts and accept completed work.
- What you bring:
- You can assess the condition of a building, defects and renovation needs and know what trade work should cost.
- How to get there:
- Housing companies and property managers train experienced construction people in administration and tenancy law over a few weeks to months. As an employee, you do not need a permit of your own. If you become self-employed as a manager of residential property, you need a permit under § 34c of the Trade Regulation Act (GewO).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours -
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
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Managing director of a construction business
Also: Branch manager in a construction company
With further trainingPromotion
In the management of a construction business or a branch, you are responsible for orders, staff and profitability across many construction sites.
- What you bring:
- You lead work crews, manage deadlines and costs and stay in contact with clients and subcontractors.
- How to get there:
- To run your own business in a construction trade that requires a license, you need the master craftsperson certificate (Meisterbrief) or an equivalent entitlement. The upgrading course for certified business manager under the Crafts Code (Geprüfter Betriebswirt nach der Handwerksordnung) teaches business skills and usually takes 1 to 2 years alongside work.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light€8,555gross per monthMedian salary
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Safety and health protection coordinator (SiGeKo)
Also: Occupational safety specialist in construction
With further training
As a coordinator or occupational safety specialist, you plan occupational safety for construction projects, inspect construction sites and advise clients and companies.
- What you bring:
- You know the dangers on the construction site, from open edges to crane operation, and know how protective measures are put into practice.
- How to get there:
- To work as a SiGeKo, you need work experience in construction and a coordinator course of a few days to weeks at training providers. Training as an occupational safety specialist (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit) requires a master craftsperson (Meister) or technician qualification followed by two years of practice, or at least four years of work as a master craftsperson or in an equivalent role. Alongside work, it takes one to two years depending on the provider.*Regulated by law (Occupational Safety Act (ASiG) § 7, DGUV Regulation 2 § 4).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€4,948gross 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 master 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, Caretaker, Construction inspector at a municipality and Technical property manager.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a master tiler?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Expert for the tile or parquet laying trade, Plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning, Instructor in the tile laying trade, State-certified construction technician, Managing director of a construction business and Safety and health protection coordinator (SiGeKo).
What promotion options do I have as a master tiler?
Promotions include, for example: Expert for the tile or parquet laying trade, Instructor in the tile laying trade, State-certified construction technician and Managing director of a construction business.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Managing director of a construction business (€8,555 gross per month), Application technician for installation materials (€5,550 gross per month) and State-certified construction technician (€5,500 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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