Career change as a journalist
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 7 with on-the-job training and 1 with training or a course. This also applies to editor.
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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Press spokesperson
Also: PR officer
With on-the-job training
As a press spokesperson or PR officer, you handle media inquiries, write press releases and advise senior management on communications.
- What you bring:
- You know how editorial offices work, what makes a story newsworthy and how to pitch topics.
- How to get there:
- Companies, government agencies and associations hire journalists directly. You learn the employer's organization and topics on the job.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€5,318gross per monthMedian salary
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Content marketing manager
Also: Social media manager
With on-the-job training
In content marketing, you plan and produce content for companies' websites, newsletters and social media.
- What you bring:
- You write quickly, find stories and know formats from text to video to podcast.
- How to get there:
- Companies and agencies train journalists in marketing goals and analysis tools. Various providers offer courses on search engine optimization and online marketing, and the length depends on the provider.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,385gross per monthMedian salary
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Technical writer
Also: Copywriter
With on-the-job training
As a technical writer, you create instructions and documentation for machines and software; as a copywriter, you write for companies and agencies.
- What you bring:
- You can research quickly and write complicated things up clearly.
- How to get there:
- Companies in industry and agencies train journalists on the job. For technical writing, further training with a certificate helps, and the length depends on the provider.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€4,728gross per monthMedian salary
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Media educator
Also: Media literacy officer
With on-the-job training
As a media educator, you teach children, young people and adults in schools, youth centers and educational institutions to use media critically.
- What you bring:
- You know news, source checking and misinformation from everyday newsroom work.
- How to get there:
- Training providers and state media authorities (Landesmedienanstalten) bring in journalists for projects, often on a freelance basis. Further training in media education alongside work helps, and the length depends on the provider. You can also apply for permanent positions.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
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Policy officer for a member of parliament
Also: Policy officer for a parliamentary group
With on-the-job training
As a policy officer for members of parliament or parliamentary groups, you prepare speeches, positions and appointments and monitor the media.
- What you bring:
- You know political topics, key players and background from your reporting and can write to the point quickly.
- How to get there:
- Members of parliament and parliamentary groups often hire political journalists directly. The jobs are usually tied to the legislative term.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office -
Head of corporate communications
Also: Chief communications officer
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As head of corporate communications, you are responsible for press, internal communication and the online presence and advise senior management.
- What you bring:
- As an experienced journalist, you have a feel for topics, crises and the media and have often led a desk already.
- How to get there:
- Companies and associations also bring senior editors straight into management roles. You learn the strategy and organization on the job.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office€7,384gross per monthMedian salary
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Media trainer
Also: Communication trainer
With on-the-job training
As a media trainer, you prepare managers, specialists and spokespeople for interviews, appearances and crisis conversations.
- What you bring:
- From many interviews, you know how questions are asked and how answers come across.
- How to get there:
- As a media trainer, you can work freelance or for agencies and start on the side while still employed. A trainer course, whose length depends on the provider, and first references help.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
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German teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg)
Also: Teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg)
With a degree
Through the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg), you teach German or another subject from your degree at secondary schools where the federal state needs teachers.
- What you bring:
- You write confidently, can judge texts and speak in front of groups.
- How to get there:
- Each federal state sets its own rules for the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg), and whether there are positions for career changers in German or another subject from your degree depends on demand. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, it is only possible for positions for which no fully trained teachers are available, your degree must match two teaching subjects, and the preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) alongside work takes 24 months.*Regulated by law (State law: teacher education acts and alternative-route regulations of the German states).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€5,466gross 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 a journalist without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Press spokesperson, Content marketing manager, Technical writer, Media educator, Policy officer for a member of parliament, Head of corporate communications and Media trainer.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a journalist?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: German teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg).
What promotion options do I have as a journalist?
Promotions include, for example: Head of corporate communications.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Head of corporate communications (€7,384 gross per month), German teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg) (€5,466 gross per month) and Content marketing manager (€5,385 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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