Career change as a building cleaner

Career change paths

• Lead hand in building cleaning

  Also: Site manager in building cleaning, Executive housekeeper in a hotel

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a lead hand or site manager, you assign colleagues, check the results and order supplies.

  What you bring:

  You know cleaning methods, products, machines and customers' expectations from your own work.

  How to get there:

  You move up at the company after some years of experience, often with in-house training or a lead hand course of a few days to weeks. For site management, the journeyman certificate (Gesellenbrief) as a building cleaner (Gebäudereiniger) helps.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift work

  €4,062gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Glass cleaner

  Also: Window cleaner

  With on-the-job training

  In glass cleaning, windows, glass facades and work on ladders or aerial work platforms come on top.

  What you bring:

  You work thoroughly, know cleaning agents and equipment and are used to physical work.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at a building cleaning company with glass cleaning, usually lasting a few weeks, with instruction on ladders, aerial work platforms and fall protection.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding
  View job

• Sterile supply worker

  Also: Sterile processing assistant

  With on-the-job training

  The reprocessing of surgical instruments requires the same care.

  What you bring:

  You work exactly according to hygiene and cleaning plans and know why cleanliness in the hospital is so important.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the reprocessing department of a hospital. You usually also take a Fachkunde course for sterile processing assistance (Fachkundelehrgang für Sterilgutassistenz), with a few weeks of instruction plus practice, which is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,342gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Nursing assistant

  Also: Qualified nursing assistant (Pflegefachassistent)

  With on-the-job training

  In nursing assistance, you support people directly with personal hygiene, eating and moving.

  What you bring:

  You are used to hygiene rules, physical work and fixed routines and often already work in clinics or care homes.

  How to get there:

  You can start as a nursing assistant after a basic nursing course (Pflegebasiskurs) of a few weeks. For a qualification, you can do vocational training (Ausbildung) as a nursing assistant (Pflegefachassistentin/Pflegefachassistent). From 2027 this training is uniform nationwide and takes 18 months full-time, with training pay. With work experience in nursing, it can be shortened.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,296gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Caretaker

  Also: Property care worker

  With on-the-job training

  In caretaker work, small repairs, inspection rounds, winter maintenance and outdoor areas come on top.

  What you bring:

  You know buildings, house rules and cleaning plans and quickly notice when something is broken or missing.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at a caretaker service, property management or facility company. Manual skill is important, and courses in building services of a few weeks make entry easier.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,260gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Care support worker

  Also: Everyday companion

  With on-the-job training

  As a care support worker, you accompany residents in daily life, read aloud, play, go for walks and organize group activities.

  What you bring:

  If you clean in care homes or clinics, you know the routines and hygiene rules and are friendly with older people.

  How to get there:

  The qualification follows the care support worker guidelines for § 53b SGB XI: about 160 hours of instruction plus internships, which together usually take 2 to 4 months. It is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). After that you need a short further training every year. You are deployed mainly in nursing homes.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people

  €3,296gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Field technical advisor, flue gas and chimney systems

  Also: Training instructor for measuring devices

  With on-the-job training

  At a manufacturer of chimney and flue gas systems or of measuring technology you advise craft businesses and planners, train customers and help with questions on the site.

  What you bring:

  As a chimney sweep you know flue gas systems, fireplaces, measuring devices and the regulations that businesses and builders have to observe.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training from the manufacturer (Einarbeitung) with product and sales training, usually for a few weeks to months. A journeyman certificate and driving license class B are expected, and for training tasks often the master qualification. Jobs can involve travel in a fixed sales territory.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Industrial climber

  Also: Work-at-height specialist

  With on-the-job training

  As an industrial climber you reach facades, towers, bridges or industrial plants on the rope and clean, inspect, install or repair there where no scaffold stands.

  What you bring:

  You are comfortable working on roofs and facades and are used to fall protection and ropes.

  How to get there:

  You take a course in rope access technique, for example following the rules of FISAT or IRATA; the entry level usually takes one week and ends with an exam. You also need a medically confirmed fitness for work with a risk of falling. Companies for work at height prefer to hire climbers with a trade qualification. The work is often project-based, with travel and assignments in wind and weather.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically demandingLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors
  View job

• Security guard

  Also: Property security worker

  With further training

  In property security, inspection rounds, reception and the right behavior in case of incidents come on top.

  What you bring:

  You often work alone in buildings, also early in the morning or in the evening, and handle keys and access rules reliably.

  How to get there:

  Briefing under § 34a GewO (Unterrichtung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) takes 40 teaching hours, plus a reliability check by the authority. For inspection rounds in publicly accessible areas, protection against shoplifters or admission to discos, you need the expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) at the IHK instead.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Code (GewO) § 34a, Security Services Ordinance (BewachV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people

  €3,200gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Warehouse specialist

  With retrainingPromotion

  In the warehouse, exactly this order and care in goods receipt, storage and picking are in demand.

  What you bring:

  You work reliably to plan, keep things in order and keep track of consumables and stock.

  How to get there:

  Retraining (Umschulung) as a warehouse specialist (Fachlagerist/in) usually takes about 16 months and is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). The forklift license is usually included.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,235gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Building energy consultant

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a building energy consultant you assess houses, plan renovations and the replacement of heating, issue energy performance certificates and advise owners on funding options.

  What you bring:

  As a chimney sweep you know heating systems, flue gas systems and measurements and see many buildings from the inside.

  How to get there:

  You take further training to become a building energy consultant at chambers of crafts or training providers, alongside work over several months; you already know some of the content from your training. You may issue energy performance certificates (Energieausweise) under § 88 of the Building Modernization Act (GModG) if you meet the requirements for entry in the chimney sweep trade, as a rule with the master qualification, and show training in energy-saving construction.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €5,500gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning

  Also: Customer service technician for heating systems

  With retraining

  In heating customer service you service, repair and adjust heating systems and heat pumps, replace components and advise customers on modernization.

  What you bring:

  As a chimney sweep you know oil, gas and wood firing systems, flue gas routes and measurements and quickly see when a heating system is not set correctly.

  How to get there:

  Shortened vocational training or retraining (Umschulung) as a plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning (Anlagenmechaniker/Anlagenmechanikerin für Sanitär-, Heizungs- und Klimatechnik) usually takes about 2 years instead of 3.5 years, and your journeyman certificate can contribute to the shortening. Some heating companies also deploy chimney sweeps directly in maintenance after on-the-job training and manufacturer courses (Einarbeitung). For work on the refrigerant circuit of heat pumps you additionally need a refrigerant expertise certificate (Kältemittel-Sachkunde).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,797gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Occupational safety specialist

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an occupational safety specialist you advise craft and construction businesses, assess hazards and train the employees.

  What you bring:

  You know fall hazards on roofs and facades, hazardous substances such as soot and exhaust gases and the protective measures against them from daily work.

  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 a statutory accident insurance fund (Berufsgenossenschaft) 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

  View job

• Instructor in the chimney sweep trade

  Also: Lecturer at a training center of the chimney sweep trade

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an instructor or lecturer you train apprentices in inter-company courses and prepare them for the journeyman exam.

  What you bring:

  As a chimney sweep you master sweeping, measuring and inspecting combustion systems in practice and can explain rules and technology clearly.

  How to get there:

  The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the chimney sweep trade also includes trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung), and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with the journeyman certificate (Gesellenbrief). Full-time jobs exist, for example, at training centers of the chimney sweep trade.*Regulated by law (Crafts Code (HwO) § 22b).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

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.