Career change as an industrial mechanic
With your experience you can switch to 10 jobs in Germany: 4 with on-the-job training and 6 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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Service technician for wind turbines
Also: Elevator installer
With on-the-job training
As a service technician you service and repair wind turbines or elevators on site and also learn the electrics of the systems.
- What you bring:
- You can service mechanical assemblies, gearboxes and hydraulics, look for faults systematically and work independently.
- 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, often including a qualification as an electrically qualified person for defined tasks (Elektrofachkraft für festgelegte Tätigkeiten). For wind turbines you need fitness for work at height and safety trainings, which the employer usually organizes. Standby duty and travel are usual.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors -
Technical field sales representative
Also: Sales representative for drive and hydraulic technology
With on-the-job training
At the manufacturer or technical wholesaler you advise industrial customers, present products, prepare offers and clarify technical questions and complaints.
- What you bring:
- You understand machines, drives and hydraulics from practice and know what problems businesses have with them in daily life.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training from the manufacturer or dealer (Einarbeitung), often first in inside sales, usually a few weeks to months with product training. A driving license class B and willingness to travel are expected. Further training as a technician or an additional business qualification improves your chances.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,550gross per monthMedian salary
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Robot programmer
Also: Robotics commissioning technician
With on-the-job training
In automation you program industrial robots, set up robot cells, optimize processes and fix faults.
- What you bring:
- You understand mechanics, drives and pneumatics of systems and can look for faults systematically.
- How to get there:
- You take programming courses from the robot manufacturers or training providers, usually a few days to weeks per control system, plus on-the-job training on the systems in the company or at the plant builder (Einarbeitung). Basic knowledge of electrical and control technology is needed. As a commissioning technician you are often on installation at customers.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workLittle customer contact€5,237gross per monthMedian salary
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Commissioning technician
Also: Service technician in machine and plant construction
With on-the-job training
At the machine or plant builder you commission new systems at the customer's, adjust them, train the operating staff and fix faults in service.
- What you bring:
- You know mechanics, hydraulics and pneumatics of machines and find faults systematically and independently.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training from the manufacturer (Einarbeitung), usually several months with training on controls and plant technology. Basic knowledge of electrical and control technology and English are often needed. Willingness to travel in Germany and abroad is required, and assignments sometimes last several weeks.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demandingLots of contact with people€4,191gross per monthMedian salary
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Certified industrial foreman, metal
Also: Maintenance foreman
With further trainingPromotion
As a master craftsperson (Meister) you lead a team in production or maintenance, plan assignments and maintenance work and ensure occupational safety.
- What you bring:
- You know machines, systems and production processes from the inside and know where faults and downtime arise.
- How to get there:
- You take further training as a certified industrial foreman, specialization metal (Geprüfter Industriemeister Fachrichtung Metall), usually about 2 years alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). With your qualification in a metal trade you are admitted directly to the first exam part, and to the second after another year of work experience.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workLittle customer contact€5,639gross per monthMedian salary
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State-certified mechanical engineering technician
Also: Maintenance planner
With further trainingPromotion
As a technician you work in design, maintenance planning or project engineering and plan how systems are built, improved and maintained.
- What you bring:
- You know assemblies, drives, hydraulics and wear from daily work on machines.
- How to get there:
- The vocational college for technology (Fachschule für Technik), specialization in mechanical engineering or mechatronics, 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 vocational qualification and at least one year of work experience; the federal state sets the exact rules.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact -
Service technician for refrigeration and air conditioning systems
Also: Service technician for heat pumps
With further training
In refrigeration and air conditioning technology you install, test and service refrigeration systems, air conditioners and heat pumps at customers' premises.
- What you bring:
- You know pumps, compressors, pipelines and controls from maintenance and work cleanly and systematically.
- How to get there:
- For work on refrigerant circuits with fluorinated refrigerants you need an expertise certificate (Sachkundebescheinigung): a course with a theoretical and practical exam, usually a few days to two weeks. A technical or trade vocational qualification is required, which you already have. After that you get on-the-job training at the specialist company (Einarbeitung). A qualification of your own comes from a shortened vocational training as a refrigeration mechatronics technician (Mechatroniker/Mechatronikerin für Kältetechnik).*Regulated by law (Regulation (EU) 2024/573 Art. 10, Chemicals Climate Protection Ordinance (ChemKlimaschutzV) §§ 5, 6).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demandingLots of contact with people€3,992gross per monthMedian salary
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Metalworking instructor in a training workshop
Also: Training master
With further trainingPromotion
As an instructor you look after trainees in the training workshop and the company and prepare them for their exams.
- What you bring:
- You are skilled in metalworking, assembly and maintenance in practice and can explain work steps clearly.
- How to get there:
- Under the Vocational Training Act you need your vocational qualification, work experience and the trainer aptitude exam (Ausbildereignungsprüfung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). The course for it takes a few weeks, also alongside work. In the agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics trade (Land- und Baumaschinenmechatroniker-Handwerk), which requires a license, the Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung) generally requires the master craftsperson exam for trainers. Full-time instructor jobs exist mainly in larger industrial companies and training centers, where the certified industrial foreman (Industriemeister) is often additionally expected.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Crafts Code (HwO) § 22b, Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO)).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact€4,462gross per monthMedian salary
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Occupational safety specialist
Also: Safety supervisor
With further trainingPromotion
As an occupational safety specialist you advise the company, assess hazards, investigate accidents and train employees.
- What you bring:
- You know hazards at machines, in maintenance and installation from your own experience and know how protective devices work.
- How to get there:
- The requirement is generally the master craftsperson exam, for example as a certified industrial foreman (Industriemeister), 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). 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 weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact€4,948gross per monthMedian salary
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Power plant operator
Also: Plant operator in a combined heat and power plant
With further training
As a power plant operator you monitor systems in heating, waste-to-energy or industrial power plants, run them from the control room and take care of faults on site.
- What you bring:
- You know pumps, fittings, pipelines and drives from maintenance and can narrow down faults systematically.
- How to get there:
- You start with on-the-job training in shift work (Einarbeitung), plus the further training as a certified power plant operator (Geprüfter Kraftwerker) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or a power plant school, which takes about one to two years alongside work. A qualification in a metal or electrical trade and work experience are usually required. Rotating shifts with night and weekend work are the rule.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workLittle customer contact€5,720gross 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 an industrial mechanic without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Service technician for wind turbines, Technical field sales representative, Robot programmer and Commissioning technician.
Which retraining or further training suits me as an industrial mechanic?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Certified industrial foreman, metal, State-certified mechanical engineering technician, Service technician for refrigeration and air conditioning systems, Metalworking instructor in a training workshop, Occupational safety specialist and Power plant operator.
What promotion options do I have as an industrial mechanic?
Promotions include, for example: Certified industrial foreman, metal, State-certified mechanical engineering technician, Metalworking instructor in a training workshop and Occupational safety specialist.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Power plant operator (€5,720 gross per month), Certified industrial foreman, metal (€5,639 gross per month) and Technical field sales representative (€5,550 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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