Career change as a photo lab technician
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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Product photographer in online retail
Also: Photo studio assistant
With on-the-job training
As a product photographer, you photograph goods for online shops and catalogs, light the subjects and edit the images according to fixed specifications.
- What you bring:
- You know exposure, color and image editing and have an eye for good pictures.
- How to get there:
- Online retailers, agencies and photo studios give people with image experience on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). A portfolio of your own photos is usually more important than a qualification. Vocational training (Ausbildung) as a photographer (Fotograf/in) takes 3 years and gives you your own qualification.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact€3,443gross per monthMedian salary
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Film and video digitization specialist
Also: Technician for film restoration
With on-the-job training
In archives, post-production or at service providers, you scan films and photos, clean and restore them digitally and secure the data.
- What you bring:
- You know film material, development and color correction, and this knowledge is in demand in the digitization of old films.
- How to get there:
- Archives, broadcasters and digitization service providers give film and photo lab technicians a few weeks to months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) on scanners and software. Such jobs are mainly found at large archives, broadcasters and specialized service providers.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact€3,400gross per monthMedian salary
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Scan operator in archive digitization
Also: Document management specialist
With on-the-job training
At public authorities, archives and digitization service providers, you digitize files, photos and plans, check the quality and record metadata.
- What you bring:
- You work precisely with scanners, image quality and file formats.
- How to get there:
- Service providers and archives give you a few days to weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). One area of work is the switch of authorities to electronic files, often in projects with fixed-term jobs.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€3,090gross per monthMedian salary
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Employee in digital printing
Also: Machine operator for large-format printing
With on-the-job training
In print shops and at photo book makers, you operate digital printing machines, check colors and quality and prepare orders.
- What you bring:
- You know color profiles, papers and output devices, and digital printing machines work on similar principles as photo printers.
- How to get there:
- Print shops and photo service providers give you a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) on the machines. There is seasonally a lot of work before Christmas. Vocational training (Ausbildung) as a print media technologist (Medientechnologe/Medientechnologin Druck) takes 3 years and gives you your own qualification.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Little customer contact€3,711gross per monthMedian salary
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Digital and print media designer
With retraining
As a media designer, you edit images, design printed matter and digital media and prepare data for printing and production.
- What you bring:
- You know color management, image correction and output devices from the photo lab.
- How to get there:
- Retraining (Umschulung) as a digital and print media designer (Mediengestalter/in Digital und Print) usually takes about 2 years, with an internship and an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), and is often funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). A portfolio with your own work helps with applications.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€3,305gross per monthMedian salary
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Chemical production specialist
Also: Chemical plant operator
With retraining
In chemical and pharmaceutical companies, you operate and monitor production plants, take samples and document the processes.
- What you bring:
- You know chemicals, baths, temperatures and exact mixing ratios from the lab and work carefully on equipment.
- How to get there:
- Retraining (Umschulung) as a chemical production specialist (Produktionsfachkraft Chemie) usually takes about 16 months, and as a chemical plant operator (Chemikant/in) just over 2 years. Both are often funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Expect shift work.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workLittle customer contact€4,942gross per monthMedian salary
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Medical technologist for laboratory analysis
With further training
In the medical laboratory, you examine blood, tissue and other samples for diagnoses and work in clinics, laboratory practices or research.
- What you bring:
- You work precisely with chemicals, devices and work instructions and can document results cleanly.
- How to get there:
- Training at a vocational school (Berufsfachschule) takes 3 years with practical placements and a state exam, and it now comes with training pay. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus completed vocational training of at least two years.*Regulated by law (Medical Technology Professions Act (MTBG) §§ 1, 5, 13 and 14).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact€4,064gross per monthMedian salary
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Warehouse logistics specialist
Also: Warehouse specialist
With retraining
In the warehouses of retailers and shipping companies, you receive goods, book them in the system, put orders together and organize shipping.
- What you bring:
- You know order processing, dispatch and the careful handling of sensitive goods from laboratory production.
- How to get there:
- Retraining (Umschulung) as a warehouse specialist (Fachlagerist) usually takes about 16 months, and as a warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) about 2 years. Both are often funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). You get the forklift license in a course of a few days.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact€3,235gross 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 photo lab technician without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Product photographer in online retail, Film and video digitization specialist, Scan operator in archive digitization and Employee in digital printing.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a photo lab technician?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Digital and print media designer, Chemical production specialist, Medical technologist for laboratory analysis and Warehouse logistics specialist.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Chemical production specialist (€4,942 gross per month), Medical technologist for laboratory analysis (€4,064 gross per month) and Employee in digital printing (€3,711 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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