Career change as an industrial master (Industriemeister)

Career change paths

• Head of plant logistics

  Also: Head of materials management

  With on-the-job training

  In plant logistics or materials management, you lead goods receipt, warehouse and internal transport, steer stock levels and make sure the lines are supplied on time.

  What you bring:

  You know how material, deadlines and capacity are connected and what a supply shortage means for production.

  How to get there:

  Industrial companies often fill such positions internally with managers from production and train them in warehouse management and the ERP system. Courses on logistics and materials management at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or training providers help you get in and can be done alongside work.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLittle customer contact

  €6,004gross per monthMedian salary

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• Work preparation planner (Arbeitsvorbereiter)

  Also: Production planner

  With on-the-job training

  In work planning or production planning, you create work plans and production orders, plan capacity in the ERP system and usually work without shift work (Schichtdienst).

  What you bring:

  You know the machines, setup times and bottlenecks of production precisely and can realistically judge what is feasible in what time.

  How to get there:

  Companies train experienced master craftspeople and shift supervisors in planning software and the ERP system for a few weeks to months. Courses on REFA methods or production planning at training providers are an advantage, but not mandatory.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,873gross per monthMedian salary

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• Technical field sales representative

  Also: Sales representative for industrial supplies

  With on-the-job training

  In technical field sales, you advise industrial customers on tools, operating materials or plants, prepare offers and look after customers in the long term.

  What you bring:

  You know processes, machines and materials in production and understand the cost and time pressure that manufacturing companies are under.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers and dealers train specialists from production with product and sales training over a few months. A class B driving license is usually expected. Look for permanent employment, because as a self-employed commercial agent you mostly work on commission only.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Lean manager

  Also: Process optimizer in production

  With on-the-job training

  As a lean manager, you analyze processes with methods such as value stream analysis and the continuous improvement process, facilitate workshops and support changes through to implementation.

  What you bring:

  You know waste, waiting times and bottlenecks in production from your own experience and have improved processes yourself.

  How to get there:

  Larger industrial companies often use experienced master craftspeople for this and send them to courses on lean management or Six Sigma, which usually take a few days to a few weeks. Some job ads require a degree; in that case, provable improvements from your company help as evidence of your experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €6,917gross per monthMedian salary

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• Quality technician

  Also: Quality management officer

  With on-the-job training

  In quality assurance, you plan inspections, evaluate errors and complaints, support audits and maintain the quality management system in line with standards such as ISO 9001.

  What you bring:

  You know where errors arise in production, how test plans work in everyday practice and how to eliminate deviations with the team.

  How to get there:

  Companies also move master craftspeople from production into quality assurance and train them there. Courses for quality management officer at training providers usually take a few days to a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €5,017gross per monthMedian salary

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• Plant manager in production

  Also: Works manager

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a plant or works manager, you are responsible for a whole production area or site with budget, investments and staff and work closely with purchasing, sales and senior management.

  What you bring:

  You already lead teams, plan shifts and capacity and know the key metrics of your production.

  How to get there:

  You can take the upgrading course for certified technical business manager (Geprüfter Technischer Betriebswirt) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) alongside work. It is eligible for funding through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications), and the duration depends on the provider. You are admitted with a master craftsperson (Meister) or technician exam, as a certified technical senior specialist (Technischer Fachwirt) or as an engineer with two years of practice. Works management positions are usually only given after several years of leadership experience, and in large groups often also to university graduates.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLittle customer contact

  €6,633gross per monthMedian salary

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• Occupational safety specialist (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit)

  With further training

  As an occupational safety specialist, you advise companies, prepare risk assessments (Gefährdungsbeurteilungen), investigate accidents and train employees.

  What you bring:

  You know accident hazards at machines, in internal transport and in handling hazardous substances and know how to enforce protective rules in everyday shift work.

  How to get there:

  With a master craftsperson (Meister) or technician exam and subsequent work experience, you generally meet the requirements. After that comes the training as an occupational safety specialist at a statutory accident insurance body or recognized training provider. It runs alongside work in several stages with classroom and self-study phases.*Regulated by law (Occupational Safety Act (ASiG) § 7, DGUV Regulation 2 § 4).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €4,948gross per monthMedian salary

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• Trainer in industry

  Also: Head of a training workshop

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a trainer, you look after apprentices in the training workshop and in production, plan the training according to the framework plan and prepare them for exams.

  What you bring:

  You know production, quality assurance and work organization from practice and have experience guiding employees.

  How to get there:

  As a certified industrial foreman (Industriemeister), you have usually already proven the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung). Otherwise you prove it in an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Preparation courses are optional, and their length depends on the provider. Full-time trainer positions exist, for example, in larger industrial companies and training centers.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Ordinance on Trainer Aptitude (AEVO)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact

  €4,462gross 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.