Career change as a forestry worker

Career change paths

• Forestry machine operator

  Also: Harvester operator

  With on-the-job training

  As a forestry machine operator you fell and process trees with the harvester or move the timber with the forwarder, mostly alone in the cab, which is physically less demanding than working with the chainsaw.

  What you bring:

  You know timber harvesting, assortments, skid trails and soil protection from practice and know how a stand is used safely and gently.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) on the machine at a forestry company or forest enterprise, usually for several months, often supplemented by manufacturer courses. To be admitted to the further training exam to become a certified forestry machine operator (Geprüfter Forstmaschinenführer), you need a qualification as a forestry worker and driving license class T or a comparable license. Long working days and changing work sites are usual.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €3,080gross per monthMedian salary

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• Arborist

  Also: Tree climber

  With on-the-job training

  As an arborist you prune, secure and fell trees in cities, parks and gardens, often with rope climbing technique or an aerial work platform, and advise municipalities and private people.

  What you bring:

  You know tree species, felling technique and the safe use of chainsaw and ropes and can judge tensions in the wood and dangers in the tree.

  How to get there:

  Tree care companies hire forestry workers and train them on the job (Einarbeitung). For work in the tree you need courses in rope climbing technique, usually several days per level. With your qualification as a forestry worker, you are later admitted to the further training exam to become a certified agricultural specialist for tree care (Geprüfter Fachagrarwirt Baumpflege) even without further work experience, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of time outdoors

  €3,208gross per monthMedian salary

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• Tree inspector

  Also: Tree inspection employee at the parks department

  With on-the-job training

  As a tree inspector you regularly check trees for traffic safety for municipalities, housing companies or expert offices, document damage digitally and decide on care measures, and the work is physically much lighter than timber harvesting.

  What you bring:

  You recognize sick, damaged or break-prone trees and know fungal infestation, dead wood and root damage from forest work.

  How to get there:

  You take a certification course to become a tree inspector, for example following the rules of the Landscape Development and Landscaping Research Society (FLL). It usually takes a few days and ends with an exam. A vocational qualification in a green profession, such as forestry worker, and work experience with trees are expected. Municipalities, housing companies and expert offices hire tree inspectors, often combined with tree care tasks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €3,208gross per monthMedian salary

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• Roundwood buyer

  Also: Timber buyer for a sawmill

  With on-the-job training

  As a roundwood buyer you buy timber from forest enterprises and forest owners for sawmills or timber dealers, record log piles, plan transport and agree quantities and delivery dates.

  What you bring:

  You know tree species, timber qualities, assortments and timber defects and can measure and judge logs.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training at the sawmill or timber trade (Einarbeitung), usually for a few months. A driving license class B and a lot of driving time are part of the job. A master or technician qualification and basic business knowledge improve your chances. Jobs are mainly in regions with a lot of forest.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours

  €4,200gross per monthMedian salary

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• Master forester

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a master forester (Forstwirtschaftsmeister) you plan and lead work groups, train apprentices, organize timber harvesting and planting and coordinate with the forest district manager and companies.

  What you bring:

  You are skilled in timber harvesting, planting, forest care and the safe use of a chainsaw and cable winch, and you know the dangers in the forest exactly.

  How to get there:

  You take the master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the occupation of forestry worker (Forstwirt) at the responsible body. Preparation courses are usually alongside work and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with a qualification as a forestry worker and then at least 2 years of work experience; with another agricultural qualification after 3 years, or without a qualification after at least 5 years of work experience in forestry. Jobs are offered by state forestry enterprises, municipalities, larger private forests and forestry companies.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

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• Timber transport driver

  Also: Truck driver with loading crane in roundwood transport

  With further training

  As a timber transport driver you load logs yourself with the crane, secure the load and bring the timber to sawmills and timber yards.

  What you bring:

  You know forest roads, log pile sites and timber assortments and judge ground, slope and weight in the forest confidently.

  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. For the loading crane you need instruction or a short course and authorization from the company. Work often starts very early.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV), Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Service technician for forestry machines

  Also: Agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics technician

  With retraining

  As a service technician you service and repair harvesters, forwarders and other forestry and agricultural machines, in the workshop or directly in the forest.

  What you bring:

  You maintain chainsaws, cable winches and forestry technology yourself and know the loads that machines are exposed to in the forest.

  How to get there:

  You can retrain (Umschulung) as an agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics technician (Land- und Baumaschinenmechatroniker/Land- und Baumaschinenmechatronikerin). It usually takes a good 2 years and can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). With your qualification as a forestry worker, the chamber can shorten a regular training. Dealers of forestry technology sometimes also train experienced forestry workers directly with manufacturer courses. Willingness to travel is expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,584gross per monthMedian salary

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• Occupational safety specialist

  Also: Safety specialist in forestry

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an occupational safety specialist you advise forestry enterprises and companies, assess hazards, check work procedures and train the employees.

  What you bring:

  You know the accident risks of felling, rope work and machine use from your own experience and know which protective measures really help in the forest.

  How to get there:

  The requirement is generally the master craftsperson exam or a technician qualification followed by work experience. After that comes the training as an occupational safety specialist (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit) at an accident insurance provider or a recognized training provider. It runs alongside work in several stages, with in-person and self-study phases.*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

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• Instructor at a forestry training center

  Also: Instructor for chainsaw courses

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an instructor you guide forestry worker trainees in courses and in the field, or train forest owners, municipal employees and firefighters in chainsaw courses.

  What you bring:

  You are skilled in timber harvesting, chainsaw technique, cable winch and occupational safety in the forest, and you can safely demonstrate dangerous work steps.

  How to get there:

  Full-time instructor jobs at forestry training centers and at state forestry enterprises usually require the master craftsperson exam as a master forester (Forstwirtschaftsmeister), which includes the part on vocational training and staff management. With a qualification as a forestry worker you are admitted after 2 years of work experience. For chainsaw courses, providers mainly expect a lot of practical experience and educational training. You can also work freelance as an instructor alongside your forestry job.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30; Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with peopleLots of time outdoors

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

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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.