Career change as a housekeeper

Career change paths

• Cook in institutional catering

  Also: Cook in a daycare or home kitchen

  With on-the-job training

  In the kitchen of a daycare center, school or senior facility you prepare meals for many people, help plan menus, and order food.

  What you bring:

  You cook fresh every day, plan meals according to wishes, intolerances and budget, and work cleanly according to hygiene rules.

  How to get there:

  Daycare centers, schools and homes also hire home economics specialists for their kitchens and give them a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in commercial kitchen technology and quantity planning. For cook jobs in restaurants or large kitchens, employers usually expect a qualification as a cook, which you can earn through retraining (Umschulung) or, after four and a half years of kitchen experience, through the external exam (Externenprüfung).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,058gross per monthMedian salary

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• Nursing assistant

  Also: Nursing assistant in outpatient care

  With on-the-job training

  In nursing assistance you support older or sick people at home or in facilities with personal care, meals and mobility, and work closely with the nursing staff.

  What you bring:

  You know household management, hygiene and nutrition, and in private households you often also look after older people or people who need support.

  How to get there:

  You can start as a nursing assistant after a basic nursing course (Pflegebasiskurs) of a few weeks, especially at outpatient care services. You can earn a qualification through the training as nursing specialist assistant (Pflegefachassistent): it will be uniform nationwide from 2027, usually takes 18 months full-time, and comes with a training allowance.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,296gross per monthMedian salary

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• Application adviser for cleaning and hygiene

  Also: Field sales representative for cleaning technology

  With on-the-job training

  At the manufacturer or wholesaler you advise facilities and building service providers, present cleaning and hygiene concepts, and train the staff on site.

  What you bring:

  You know cleaning agents, dosing systems, machines and hygiene requirements from work in hotels, clinics or homes.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the manufacturer or wholesaler, usually a few weeks of product training. A class B driving license and willingness to travel are expected. Look for a permanent position: as a self-employed commercial agent you usually work on commission only 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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• Head of laundry services

  Also: Operations manager of a laundry

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  In the management of a large laundry or textile service you plan staff and production, steer routes and quality, and look after major customers.

  What you bring:

  You know laundry cycles, textile care, hygiene requirements, and what hotels, clinics and homes expect from clean laundry.

  How to get there:

  The management of laundry services in clinics, homes or hotel groups is often taken over by experienced housekeeping managers, who get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in machines, washing processes and hygiene certification. For the operations management of a commercial large laundry, the way in usually leads through shift or production management, and depending on the business, a master qualification in the textile cleaning trade or in home economics, or a technician qualification, is then expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift work

  €4,062gross per monthMedian salary

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• Hygiene adviser for institutional catering

  Also: Auditor for food hygiene

  With on-the-job training

  As a hygiene adviser or auditor you check kitchens, canteens and facilities, create hygiene concepts based on the HACCP principle, train staff, and prepare businesses for official inspections.

  What you bring:

  You implement hygiene plans and self-checks, know cleaning, disinfection and food hygiene, and instruct employees.

  How to get there:

  Courses in hygiene management and auditing at chambers, associations and testing organizations usually take a few days to a few weeks. After that you get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at a consulting company, caterer or association. A master or technical college qualification in home economics or the food sector and experience in commercial kitchens are usually expected. Business travel is common.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact

  €4,905gross per monthMedian salary

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• Kitchen manager in institutional catering

  With on-the-job training

  As kitchen manager in homes, clinics, canteens or schools you plan menus and staff, order goods, and ensure compliance with hygiene regulations.

  What you bring:

  If you are also responsible for catering in a care or educational facility, you know menu planning, diets, hygiene rules and cost of goods.

  How to get there:

  Homes and communal kitchens often fill kitchen management positions with cooks, but also with master craftspeople in home economics or experienced housekeeping managers. On-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in kitchen technology and production processes usually takes a few weeks to a few months. Experience in commercial kitchens clearly improves your chances.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,913gross per monthMedian salary

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• Buyer for hotel and clinic supplies

  Also: Purchasing clerk

  With on-the-job training

  In the purchasing department of a hotel group, a clinic network or a building service provider you negotiate with suppliers, put framework agreements out to tender, and monitor deliveries.

  What you bring:

  You order cleaning agents, laundry and consumables, compare quotes, and know which quality holds up in everyday use.

  How to get there:

  You switch to purchasing with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), usually lasting a few weeks to a few months. A commercial qualification is often expected. Later, you can take part-time further training in purchasing at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,200gross per monthMedian salary

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• Family care worker (Familienpfleger)

  Also: Village helper (Dorfhelfer)

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a family care worker you step in with families when a parent is ill, in hospital or on a health cure, look after the children and the household, and keep everyday life running.

  What you bring:

  You run a household independently, cook, plan, and reliably take care of the people you work for.

  How to get there:

  You do training (Ausbildung) as a state-recognized family care worker (staatlich anerkannter Familienpfleger) at a technical college or vocational school under state law, which usually takes two to three years including practice. Depending on the state, a qualification as home economics specialist is a usual route in. The training is available only at a few schools. Employers are mainly family care services, church providers and, in rural regions, village help services.*Regulated by law (State law: state recognition under each state's technical college and vocational school regulations).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,365gross per monthMedian salary

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• Registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann)

  With vocational training

  In nursing you look after sick and older people in the hospital, in a home or at home, take over medical nursing care, and plan the care.

  What you bring:

  You work carefully in other people's households, pay attention to hygiene and nutrition, and treat the people you care for with respect.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational training (Ausbildung) as a registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann). It takes three years full-time or up to five years part-time, and you receive a training allowance. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus at least two years of vocational training, for example as home economics specialist.*Regulated by law (Nursing Professions Act (PflBG)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,421gross per monthMedian salary

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• Dietitian (Diätassistent)

  With vocational training

  As a dietitian you plan nutrition for illnesses such as diabetes or kidney disease in clinics, rehabilitation facilities or practices, and advise patients.

  What you bring:

  You cook for others every day, know foods and preparation, and take wishes, intolerances and special diets into account.

  How to get there:

  You train at a state-recognized school for three years and finish with a state exam. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus at least two years of vocational training. Some schools are attached to clinics. Whether tuition fees apply depends on the school and the state.*Regulated by law (Dietitian Act (DiätAssG) § 5).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,702gross per monthMedian salary

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• Early childhood educator (Erzieher)

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an early childhood educator (Erzieher) you look after children in a daycare center (Kita), after-school care center (Hort) or residential group, plan the educational work, and observe and document their development.

  What you bring:

  If you work with families, you know everyday life with children, fixed routines, meals and how to coordinate with parents.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational college training (Fachschulausbildung) under state law, usually for two to three years plus practice phases. Depending on the state and college, it is also offered practice-integrated with pay. Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications) is possible. You usually need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) and completed vocational training. Each state decides whether a qualification as home economics specialist is enough or whether you must first become a social care assistant (Sozialassistent).*Regulated by law (State law: state recognition under each state's vocational college regulations).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,995gross per monthMedian salary

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• Disability support worker (Heilerziehungspfleger)

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a disability support worker (Heilerziehungspfleger) you work with people with disabilities in residential groups, workshops or schools, support them in daily life and care, and promote their independence.

  What you bring:

  You organize everyday life, meals and the household for others and respond respectfully to their wishes and habits.

  How to get there:

  You train at a vocational college (Fachschule) under state law, which usually takes three years and, depending on the state and college, is also offered practice-integrated with pay. Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications) is possible. You usually need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) and completed vocational training, for example as home economics specialist, or several years of work experience. The exact rules are set by the state.*Regulated by law (State law: state recognition under each state's vocational college regulations).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,461gross per monthMedian salary

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• Child day care provider (Kindertagespflegeperson)

  With further training

  In child day care you look after up to five children independently in your home or in rented rooms.

  What you bring:

  You organize a household with fixed routines, cook healthily, and keep track of things even when many things happen at once.

  How to get there:

  To look after other people's children for payment for more than 15 hours per week, you need a care permit from the youth welfare office (Jugendamt), which is limited to five years. The youth welfare offices require a qualification course for this, whose length differs by state, for example about 300 teaching units, partly before and partly during the work. You also need suitable rooms and an extended police clearance certificate (erweitertes Führungszeugnis). How well you can live on it depends strongly on the municipality and the number of children.*Regulated by law (§ 43 Social Code, Book VIII (SGB VIII)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,340gross per monthMedian salary

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• Rooms division manager

  Also: Hotel manager

  With further trainingPromotion

  As rooms division manager you are responsible for the front desk and housekeeping together, and in smaller hotels also for the whole hotel operation.

  What you bring:

  If you lead housekeeping in a hotel, you know room standards, staff planning, budgets and how closely you have to coordinate with the reception.

  How to get there:

  This is usually an internal promotion in larger hotels, often after some time at the front desk to get to know that area. As a qualification, the further training course for certified senior specialist in hospitality (Fachwirt im Gastgewerbe) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or the technical college for the hotel and restaurant trade (state-certified business administrator, two years full-time) fit. Both can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You usually need a vocational qualification and work experience in hospitality.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with people
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• Head of building services

  Also: Head of economic and supply services, Head of facility management

  With further trainingPromotion

  As head of building or supply services you are responsible for several areas such as cleaning, laundry, catering and building technology, manage budgets, and put services out to tender.

  What you bring:

  You plan staff and cleaning processes, check quality, order material and work with service providers.

  How to get there:

  You usually get there after several years in property or housekeeping management and with part-time further training. Good options are, for example, the technical college for nutrition and supply management (state-certified business administrator, two years full-time, partly also alongside a job) or courses in facility management at chambers and private providers. Recognized further trainings can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Admission to the technical college is regulated by the state, usually requiring a vocational qualification and work experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLittle customer contact
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• Trainer for home economics at a training provider

  Also: Practical skills teacher for home economics

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a trainer at a vocational training center (Berufsbildungswerk) or training provider you prepare apprentices and retraining students for the exam in home economics, and at vocational schools you teach the practical skills.

  What you bring:

  You guide employees, explain work steps and hygiene rules, and check the results.

  How to get there:

  To train others you need the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung), which you prove in an exam at the responsible body. Preparation courses are optional, and the master craftsperson exam in home economics includes a corresponding part. Training providers usually expect the master qualification in home economics or a technical college qualification. For practical skills teachers at vocational schools, the states have their own rules, often with additional teacher training.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO); state law for teachers at vocational schools).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact

  €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.