Career change as an IT systems electronics technician
With your experience you can switch to 9 jobs in Germany: 5 with on-the-job training and 4 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 security and alarm systems
Also: Technician for communications infrastructure
With on-the-job training
As a service technician you install and service intruder alarm, fire alarm and video systems or networks and radio technology at customers' premises.
- What you bring:
- You know electronics, cabling and troubleshooting on networked devices from practice.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training at the installer or network operator (Einarbeitung), usually for a few weeks to months with manufacturer courses. For fire alarm systems some clients additionally require a specialist under DIN 14675, which you earn in a course with an exam. Standby duty and a lot of driving time are usual.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demandingLots of contact with people€4,000gross per monthMedian salary
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Service technician for wind turbines
Also: Service technician for elevator systems
With on-the-job training
As a service technician you service and repair wind turbines or elevators, look for faults in electrics and controls and learn the mechanics on top.
- What you bring:
- You know controls, sensors and electrical troubleshooting and like working independently at the customer's.
- 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, which the employer usually organizes. Standby duty and travel are usual.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact -
Electronics technician for energy and building technology
Also: Solar technician
With on-the-job training
At an electrical or solar specialist company you install and commission photovoltaic systems, storage, wallboxes and building technology.
- What you bring:
- You are a qualified electrician, know protective measures and measuring technology and can narrow down faults in systems systematically.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training at the specialist company (Einarbeitung), usually a few months, to learn installation standards and testing under VDE. Manufacturer courses for inverters, storage and wallboxes usually take a few days. Anyone who wants to advance in the crafts can later take the master craftsperson exam in the electrical technician trade.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically demanding€3,675gross per monthMedian salary
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Technical sales representative, measuring technology
Also: Technical inside sales employee, electronics
With on-the-job training
At the manufacturer or distributor you advise customers, find suitable components or devices, prepare offers and clarify technical queries.
- What you bring:
- You understand components, measuring devices and circuits and can answer technicians' questions in their language.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training from the manufacturer or distributor (Einarbeitung), often first in inside sales, usually with a few weeks to months of product training. English is sometimes expected, and 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 peopleIn an office€5,550gross per monthMedian salary
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Electronics technician in the test field
Also: Test field technician
With on-the-job training
In the test field of a manufacturer you test finished devices, control cabinets or vehicle components according to test specifications, measure, find faults and document the results, usually without field service and standby duty.
- What you bring:
- You know circuit diagrams, measuring devices and systematic troubleshooting on electronic assemblies from daily work.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers in electronics production, rail technology, switchgear construction or aviation usually give electronics technicians in the test field a few weeks to months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), often with training on test software and standards. Shift work occurs in series production; with experience you can move into test planning or quality assurance.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact€4,000gross per monthMedian salary
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State-certified electrical engineering technician
Also: Technician for electronics and automation
With further trainingPromotion
As a technician you develop and test assemblies, plan test procedures or automation solutions and look after projects in a team with engineers.
- What you bring:
- You know circuits, measuring technology and troubleshooting on electronic devices and systems from practice.
- How to get there:
- The vocational college for technology (Fachschule für Technik), specialization in electrical engineering with a focus such as electronics or automation 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 vocational qualification and at least one year of work experience; the federal state sets the exact rules.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact€5,301gross per monthMedian salary
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Certified industrial foreman, electrical engineering
Also: Production manager, electronics manufacturing
With further trainingPromotion
As a master craftsperson (Meister) you lead a team in manufacturing, the test field or service, plan jobs and ensure quality and occupational safety.
- What you bring:
- You know manufacturing, testing and repair of electronic assemblies and know where errors arise in production.
- How to get there:
- You take further training as a certified industrial foreman, specialization electrical engineering (Geprüfter Industriemeister Fachrichtung Elektrotechnik), usually about 2 years alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). With your qualification in an electrical trade you generally meet the admission requirements. In the crafts, the master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the information technician or electrical technician trade is the corresponding path.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workLittle customer contact€5,364gross per monthMedian salary
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IT support specialist
Also: IT specialist for system integration
With retraining
In IT support you set up computers, printers and network devices, help users with faults and look after the IT of a company.
- What you bring:
- You look for faults systematically, know hardware and interfaces and can explain technical problems clearly.
- How to get there:
- Retraining (Umschulung) as an IT specialist for system integration (Fachinformatiker/Fachinformatikerin für Systemintegration) usually takes 2 years and can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). With an electronics qualification, a shortened vocational training is also possible. For simple support jobs, on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) and manufacturer certificates are sometimes enough.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically light€4,400gross per monthMedian salary
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Electronics instructor in a training workshop
Also: Instructor at a training center
With further trainingPromotion
As an instructor you look after trainees in the training workshop and lab and prepare them for their exams.
- What you bring:
- You know circuits, measuring technology and troubleshooting from practice and can explain technical relationships 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 crafts, the Crafts Code (Handwerksordnung) generally requires the master craftsperson exam for trainers. Full-time jobs exist mainly in large companies and training centers.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO); Crafts Code (HwO) § 22b).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact€4,462gross 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 IT systems electronics technician without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Service technician for security and alarm systems, Service technician for wind turbines, Electronics technician for energy and building technology, Technical sales representative, measuring technology and Electronics technician in the test field.
Which retraining or further training suits me as an IT systems electronics technician?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: State-certified electrical engineering technician, Certified industrial foreman, electrical engineering, IT support specialist and Electronics instructor in a training workshop.
What promotion options do I have as an IT systems electronics technician?
Promotions include, for example: State-certified electrical engineering technician, Certified industrial foreman, electrical engineering and Electronics instructor in a training workshop.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Technical sales representative, measuring technology (€5,550 gross per month), Certified industrial foreman, electrical engineering (€5,364 gross per month) and State-certified electrical engineering technician (€5,301 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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