Career change as a primary school teacher

Career change paths

• Specialist advisor for teaching development

  Also: Policy advisor at a state institute for teacher training

  With on-the-job training

  As a specialist advisor or officer in teacher training, you develop training courses, materials and concepts and support schools through changes.

  What you bring:

  You have a lot of teaching experience and know what really works in the classroom.

  How to get there:

  The states usually fill such positions with experienced teachers, often first by secondment with part of your teaching hours. You usually stay employed in the school service or remain a civil servant.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,466gross per monthMedian salary

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• Teacher of German as a second language

  Also: Teacher in integration courses

  With on-the-job training

  As a teacher of German as a second language, you teach children, young people or adults at training providers, adult education centers or in integration courses.

  What you bring:

  You can build up reading, writing and language skills step by step and work with very different learners.

  How to get there:

  For integration courses, you need approval from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge). Depending on your degree, this requires an additional qualification lasting a few weeks to a few months. You work on a freelance basis or with a permanent contract, for example at adult education centers and language schools.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,890gross per monthMedian salary

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• Editor at a textbook publisher

  Also: Author of learning materials

  With on-the-job training

  At an education publisher, you develop and edit textbooks, workbooks and digital learning offerings for primary school.

  What you bring:

  You know which tasks, texts and pictures children understand and how curricula are put into practice in class.

  How to get there:

  Education publishers hire teachers as editors, often through a traineeship (Volontariat) lasting one to two years, or first commission them as authors. The positions are concentrated in a few publishing cities.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €4,728gross per monthMedian salary

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• In-company trainer

  Also: Learning and development specialist

  With on-the-job training

  In companies or at continuing education providers, you plan and lead training sessions for employees and help develop learning offerings.

  What you bring:

  You can structure content, lead groups and assess learning progress.

  How to get there:

  Companies and education providers hire teachers if they get up to speed on adult education and business topics. Trainer courses and courses in adult education methods take a few weeks to a few months. As a civil servant, first clarify the consequences of a switch for your pension and security.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €4,462gross per monthMedian salary

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• Museum educator

  Also: Education and outreach employee at a museum

  With on-the-job training

  In museums, memorial sites or science centers, you develop and lead tours, workshops and programs for school classes and families.

  What you bring:

  You can present knowledge in a child-friendly way and keep groups engaged without losing track of everyone.

  How to get there:

  Museums often first employ educators on a freelance basis. For permanent positions, a subject degree is an advantage. Associations and academies offer courses in museum education.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people
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• Primary school principal (Schulleiter)

  Also: Vice principal (Konrektor)

  With training or an examPromotion

  As vice principal or principal, you run the school, lead the teaching staff and work with the school authority, school supervision and parents.

  What you bring:

  You know teaching, work with parents and school organization and have probably already taken on tasks in the teaching staff.

  How to get there:

  The state advertises principal positions. Depending on the state, a part-time qualification for school leadership is required or recommended beforehand, and the state sets its scope and length. School supervision makes the selection, often with the participation of the school conference (Schulkonferenz).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €7,050gross per monthMedian salary

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• Special needs teacher

  Also: Teacher at a special needs school (Förderschule)

  With training or an exam

  As a special needs teacher, you support children with special educational needs at special needs schools or in inclusive classes.

  What you bring:

  You know learning difficulties, support plans and mixed classes from everyday primary school work.

  How to get there:

  In some states, teachers can gain the special needs teaching qualification (Lehramt für Sonderpädagogik) alongside their work, in North Rhine-Westphalia for example in 18 months in one specialization, ending with a state exam. Each state regulates access, duration and qualification itself.*Regulated by law (State law: teacher education acts and alternative-route regulations of the German states).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,110gross per monthMedian salary

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• Learning therapist

  Also: Learning coach

  With further training

  As a learning therapist, you support children with reading and spelling difficulties or with arithmetic difficulties, one-on-one or in small groups, either employed or in your own practice.

  What you bring:

  You spot early when children get stuck in reading, writing or arithmetic.

  How to get there:

  Institutes and professional associations offer further training in learning therapy alongside work, and how long it takes depends on the provider. The title is not protected. Whether the youth welfare office pays for therapy depends on the individual case and often on a recognized qualification.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,166gross 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.