Career change as a cook

Career change paths

• Executive chef

  Also: Kitchen manager, Sous chef

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As kitchen manager you also plan menus, purchasing, costs and duty rosters, and lead the team.

  What you bring:

  You have mastered the work at the stations, know hygiene rules and know how a service runs under time pressure.

  How to get there:

  You move up within the business through positions such as chef de partie and sous chef, usually after several years of work experience. Alongside your job, you can take the further training course for certified kitchen master (Küchenmeister) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). It can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,913gross per monthMedian salary

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• Group leader in a sheltered workshop (Werkstatt für behinderte Menschen)

  Also: Specialist for work and vocational promotion

  With on-the-job training

  In the kitchen of a sheltered workshop you lead a group and support the employees in their work.

  What you bring:

  You can explain work steps in the kitchen, demonstrate them and turn them into fixed routines.

  How to get there:

  You can start with completed cooking training and at least two years of work experience. You make up the required additional qualification in special needs education alongside the job (§ 9 Workshop Ordinance, Werkstättenverordnung).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €4,350gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field sales adviser for the catering trade

  Also: Specialist adviser for commercial kitchen technology

  With on-the-job training

  In field sales for wholesalers or equipment manufacturers you advise kitchens, demonstrate products, and take orders.

  What you bring:

  You know foods, kitchen appliances and the processes in catering and commercial kitchens from hands-on experience.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the wholesaler or manufacturer, usually a few weeks to a few months of product training. Cooking training, work experience and a class B driving license are generally expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Food technology specialist

  Also: Machine and plant operator in food technology

  With on-the-job training

  In food production you operate plants, monitor quality and temperatures, and document batches.

  What you bring:

  You work according to recipes, follow hygiene regulations and process large quantities under time pressure.

  How to get there:

  You start in production with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the company, usually lasting a few weeks. Shift work (Schichtarbeit) is common. Later, you can earn a qualification as food technology specialist (Fachkraft für Lebensmitteltechnik, a three-year vocational training) through training or retraining (Umschulung).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,565gross per monthMedian salary

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• Restaurant manager

  Also: Hospitality operations manager

  With further trainingPromotion

  As operations manager you are also responsible for service, cost calculation and staff for the whole business.

  What you bring:

  You know the kitchen, cost of goods and staffing needs of a restaurant business from the inside.

  How to get there:

  You usually get there through kitchen management, often in institutional catering or chain restaurants. The further training course for certified kitchen master (Küchenmeister) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) also teaches operations and personnel management.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people

  €3,956gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of housekeeping

  Also: Master craftsperson in home economics (Meister der Hauswirtschaft)

  With further trainingPromotion

  In such facilities, the head of housekeeping is responsible for catering, cleaning and laundry, and leads the employees.

  What you bring:

  You know commercial kitchens, menu planning, hygiene and merchandise management, for example from a canteen, clinic or senior home.

  How to get there:

  Alongside your job, you can take the further training course for master craftsperson in home economics (Meister der Hauswirtschaft), which can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Without training in home economics, you can be admitted after at least five years of work experience related to home economics. The responsible body decides whether your kitchen experience is recognized.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekends

  €3,996gross per monthMedian salary

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• Food inspector

  With further trainingPromotion

  Food inspectors check exactly this in restaurants, canteens and food businesses.

  What you bring:

  You know hygiene rules, cold chains and self-checks under HACCP from everyday kitchen work and know where businesses typically make mistakes.

  How to get there:

  You first need to pass a further training exam in a food occupation, for cooks usually certified kitchen master (Küchenmeister). After that comes a course of at least 24 months at the food inspection authority, with a final exam.*Regulated by law (Food Inspector Ordinance (LKonV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  €3,908gross per monthMedian salary

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• Dietitian (Diätassistent)

  With vocational training

  Dietitians plan diets for the sick, calculate nutritional values, and advise patients.

  What you bring:

  You know foods, preparation and recipes, and you may already have cooked bland-diet or allergy meals.

  How to get there:

  You train at a state-recognized school for three years and finish with a state exam. With completed cooking training, a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) is enough to meet the admission requirement.*Regulated by law (Dietitian Act (DiätAssG)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,702gross per monthMedian salary

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• State-certified food technician (staatlich geprüfte Lebensmitteltechniker)

  Also: Technician in food product development

  With further trainingPromotion

  In product development and quality assurance in the food industry you develop new products, scale recipes up for production, and check quality.

  What you bring:

  You know recipes, cooking methods, taste and hygiene inside out, and you can produce dishes consistently in large quantities.

  How to get there:

  You study at a technical college for food technology (Fachschule für Lebensmitteltechnik), which takes two years full-time or about four years alongside a job and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You usually need vocational training and at least one year of work experience. The school and the state decide whether cooking training is recognized as suitable.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact

  €4,327gross 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.