Career change as a building maintenance technician

Career change paths

• Property manager in facility management

  Also: Technical property manager

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As property manager you coordinate caretakers, cleaning and specialist companies for several buildings, plan maintenance, and keep contracts and costs in view.

  What you bring:

  You know buildings, building technology, cleaning, outdoor areas and the concerns of tenants and users from everyday life.

  How to get there:

  You usually get there after some years as a caretaker or building technician at a facility service provider or housing company. Part-time further training in facility management with a certificate from the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or an association takes a few months. A craft or commercial qualification is usually expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light
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• Technical property caretaker

  Also: Clerk in property management

  With on-the-job training

  In property management you take care of damage reports, hire craftspeople, check invoices, and support apartment handovers and owners' meetings.

  What you bring:

  You know the buildings, the technology and the typical concerns of tenants and owners first-hand.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in a property management firm or housing company, often starting in technical property care. If you work in a property management firm directly on managing condominiums or rental apartments for third parties, you must complete legally required further training: 20 hours in three years (§ 34c para. 2a GewO). This does not apply to a housing company's own stock. Later you can take the exam for certified property manager at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or do retraining (Umschulung) as real estate clerk (Immobilienkaufmann).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people
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• Building technician for heating, ventilation and air conditioning

  Also: Operations technician in building technology

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a building technician in large buildings you maintain these systems yourself, adjust controls, and fix faults.

  What you bring:

  You know the heating and ventilation systems of your buildings, read fault messages, and work with maintenance companies.

  How to get there:

  For these jobs a craft or technical qualification is usually expected. With it, on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) and vendor training are often enough. Without a suitable qualification, the way in is retraining (Umschulung), for example as plant mechanic SHK or as mechatronics technician for refrigeration technology. It usually takes a good two years and can often be funded through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). For work on the refrigerant circuits of air conditioning systems you also need a certificate of expertise, which requires technical or craft vocational training.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,797gross per monthMedian salary

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• Employee at a wastewater treatment plant

  Also: Waterworks operator

  With on-the-job training

  At wastewater treatment plants and waterworks you monitor plants and readings, maintain pumps and valves, and take samples.

  What you bring:

  You know pumps, heating and water systems, make inspection rounds, and keep maintenance lists reliably.

  How to get there:

  Municipalities and special-purpose associations hire people with craft experience and train them in courses run by the professional associations, for example for wastewater treatment plant operators, usually lasting a few weeks. If you want a qualification of your own, you can do vocational training (Ausbildung) or retraining (Umschulung) as environmental technologist for wastewater management or for water supply (formerly specialist for wastewater technology or water supply technology). On-call duty is common.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €4,070gross per monthMedian salary

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• Fire safety officer

  Also: Service technician for fire extinguishers and fire doors

  With on-the-job training

  As a fire safety officer or service technician in fire protection you test and maintain these facilities, find defects, and train employees.

  What you bring:

  You know escape routes, fire extinguishers, fire doors and smoke detectors in your buildings and check them regularly.

  How to get there:

  You take a course to become a fire safety officer, usually 64 teaching units, or vendor training for testing fire extinguishers and fire doors, which lasts a few days. After that you get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the employer or a fire protection service provider. Fire safety officers are needed mainly in clinics, homes and large businesses.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekends

  €4,969gross per monthMedian salary

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• Gardener in garden and landscape construction

  Also: Employee in green space maintenance

  With on-the-job training

  In garden and landscape construction or in municipal green space maintenance, this is your main task, and you also lay out plantings, paths and walls and work with larger machines.

  What you bring:

  You mow, trim hedges, care for beds, and take care of paths and winter service (snow and ice clearing).

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the business or at the city. There are short courses for chainsaws and special machines. You can earn a qualification through vocational training (Ausbildung) or retraining (Umschulung) as gardener, specializing in garden and landscape construction. Without training, you can take the external exam (Externenprüfung) after four and a half years of suitable work experience (§ 45 para. 2 BBiG).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €3,208gross per monthMedian salary

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• Service technician for elevators

  Also: Service technician for wind turbines

  With on-the-job training

  In service for elevators or wind turbines you maintain these systems regularly, fix faults and are usually out alone or in pairs.

  What you bring:

  You read circuit diagrams, look for faults in controls and work confidently on electrical systems.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training from the manufacturer or service company (Einarbeitung), usually several months with its own training courses. For wind turbines you need fitness for work at height and safety trainings, for example on rescue at height and first aid, which the employer usually organizes. Standby duty and travel are usual.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,800gross per monthMedian salary

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• Grid fitter

  Also: Electronics technician in the distribution grid

  With on-the-job training

  At the grid operator you build and maintain local grids, house connections and substations and work a lot outdoors.

  What you bring:

  You know cables, distribution boards, protection technology and the safety rules for working on electrical systems.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training at the grid operator or a grid construction company (Einarbeitung), plus training on switching authorization and live working, which the company organizes. On-call duty for faults is often part of the job. With the journeyman certificate as an electronics technician you are usually hired directly.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLots of time outdoors

  €3,657gross per monthMedian salary

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• Service technician for fire alarm and security systems

  Also: Installer of hazard alarm systems

  With on-the-job training

  In security technology you install and service fire alarm, intruder alarm and video systems and instruct customers in their operation.

  What you bring:

  You install cables, connect devices and test systems according to regulations.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training at an installer company (Einarbeitung), plus manufacturer courses and courses to become a fire alarm system specialist under DIN 14675, usually lasting a few days to weeks. Electronics technicians with a journeyman certificate bring the right foundation for this area.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,000gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field sales representative, electrical engineering

  Also: Technical specialist advisor in electrical wholesale

  With on-the-job training

  In wholesale or at manufacturers you advise electrical businesses on products, prepare offers and support planning.

  What you bring:

  You know from practice which material, devices and solutions work on the construction site.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training from the wholesaler or manufacturer (Einarbeitung), often first in inside sales or at the specialist counter, usually with a few weeks to months of product training. A driving license class B is almost always required. Look for permanent employment: as a self-employed sales agent you usually work only on commission and bear the risk yourself.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• CAD planner, electrical engineering

  Also: Technical systems planner, electrical engineering

  With on-the-job training

  At the planning office you draw installation, circuit and distribution diagrams on the computer and support the project managers.

  What you bring:

  You know installations, cable routes and circuit diagrams from the construction site and know what can really be implemented.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training at the planning office or at an electrical business (Einarbeitung), plus a CAD course of a few weeks to months, which can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). A qualification of your own comes from vocational training (Ausbildung) as a technical systems planner (Technischer Systemplaner/Technische Systemplanerin), which can often be shortened with a journeyman certificate.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €3,717gross per monthMedian salary

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• Commissioning technician

  Also: Automation service technician

  With on-the-job training

  As a commissioning technician you commission machines and systems at the customer's, test safety functions, look for faults and instruct the staff, often also abroad.

  What you bring:

  You know circuit diagrams, wiring, measurements and troubleshooting in electrical systems from practice.

  How to get there:

  Plant and machine builders hire electronics technicians with a journeyman certificate and train them on the job over several months (Einarbeitung). Knowledge of control technology (PLC) is needed and can be gained in courses of a few weeks. Long installation periods and travel are usual, and English is often needed.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,191gross per monthMedian salary

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• Factory customer service technician

  Also: Technical field sales advisor

  With on-the-job training

  At a manufacturer you commission systems, solve difficult faults, train specialist businesses and advise planners and installers.

  What you bring:

  You know boilers, heat pumps and controls of different manufacturers from installation and customer service.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training from the manufacturer (Einarbeitung) with product training, usually for a few weeks to months. The journeyman certificate is required, and experience in customer service and a driving license class B are expected. Travel in the sales territory is part of the job.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLots of contact with people

  €5,034gross per monthMedian salary

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• Master electrician

  Also: Construction manager, electrical engineering, Project manager, electrical installation

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a master craftsperson (Meister) or site manager you plan projects, calculate jobs, lead fitters and coordinate with other trades.

  What you bring:

  You know installation, switchgear assembly, testing and construction site routines from your own work.

  How to get there:

  The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the electrical technician trade (Elektrotechniker-Handwerk) takes about one year full-time and 2 to 3 years alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with the journeyman certificate (Gesellenbrief). For your own business you need the master qualification or an equivalent entitlement, because the trade requires a license.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours

  €5,301gross per monthMedian salary

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• State-certified electrical engineering technician

  Also: Electrical planner

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a technician you plan electrical systems, create circuit diagrams and tenders and look after projects in planning offices, industry or at grid operators.

  What you bring:

  You understand circuits, protective measures, building technology and standards from practice.

  How to get there:

  The vocational college for technology (Fachschule für Technik), specialization in electrical engineering, 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 and at least one year of work experience; the federal state sets the exact rules.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €5,301gross per monthMedian salary

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• Instructor in the electrical trade

  Also: Instructor at an inter-company training facility

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an instructor you show trainees in the business or in courses of the chamber how to work safely and cleanly.

  What you bring:

  You know installation, measuring and testing from practice and can explain work steps patiently.

  How to get there:

  The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the electrical technician 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). You can take the exam with the journeyman certificate, but for instructor jobs companies and training centers usually expect several years of work experience.*Regulated by law (Crafts Code (HwO) § 22b).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact

  €4,462gross per monthMedian salary

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• Fire officer at a professional fire department

  With further training

  In the fire service you also handle firefighting, technical assistance and emergency medical service, and your electrical knowledge helps in operations at buildings and systems.

  What you bring:

  You have a trade qualification, work confidently with tools and technology and keep a clear head even under pressure.

  How to get there:

  Training at a professional fire department as a civil servant usually takes 1.5 to 2 years, depending on the federal state, and often includes the emergency medical technician course. The requirement is usually a completed trade or technical vocational qualification, plus a sports test, medical fitness and maximum age limits, which differ by state and city.*Regulated by law (Career and training ordinances of the federal states for the technical fire service).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demanding

  €4,118gross per monthMedian salary

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• Grid controller in the grid control center

  Also: Power plant operator

  With further trainingPromotion

  In the control center of a grid operator you monitor and control the power grid, plan shutdowns and coordinate fault deployments; in a power plant you run and monitor the systems in shift work.

  What you bring:

  You know protection technology, switchgear and the safety rules for electrical systems from practice.

  How to get there:

  Grid operators usually fill control centers with masters or technicians with experience in grid operation and train them internally over many months. An intermediate step can be the move into grid operation with switching authorization. For power plants there is the further training as a certified power plant operator (Geprüfter Kraftwerker): you are admitted with an electrical qualification, plus at least 12 months of structured further training at the power plant and one year of practice in plant operation. Shift work is usual in both areas.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €5,470gross per monthMedian salary

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• State-certified technician for heating, ventilation and air conditioning

  Also: Technical building services planner

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a technician you plan and calculate such systems, write bills of quantities and look after projects at a planning office or at manufacturers.

  What you bring:

  You know from practice how heating, ventilation and drinking water systems are built and where execution gets stuck.

  How to get there:

  The vocational college for technology (Fachschule für Technik), specialization in heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology, 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 and at least one year of work experience; the federal state sets the exact rules.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,349gross per monthMedian salary

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• Expert for tap water damage

  Also: Claims assessor for insurers

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an expert for tap water damage you use measuring technology to find the cause of water damage, assess the extent and renovation and write expert reports for insurers, property managers and courts.

  What you bring:

  You know pipes, connections, materials and typical causes of damage from installation and repair.

  How to get there:

  You often start at a leak detection or remediation company with training on measuring equipment such as thermography and moisture measurement, usually for a few weeks (Einarbeitung). For your own expert reports, insurers usually expect the master qualification and an expert course at chambers or associations. Public appointment and swearing in by the Chamber of Crafts only follows after a check of your special expertise.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hours

  €4,349gross 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.