Career change as a beautician

Career change paths

• Lecturer at a beauty school

  Also: Trainer for cosmetics

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a lecturer or trainer you train prospective beauticians in techniques, hygiene and advice.

  What you bring:

  You have mastered treatments, skin analysis and product knowledge in practice, and you can demonstrate techniques clearly.

  How to get there:

  Beauty schools and training providers look for experienced beauticians and give them on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). Several years of practice, further training and often the master title are expected. If you look after apprentices in a business, you also need to pass the trainer aptitude exam (Ausbildereignungsprüfung), which is also part of the master exam.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field sales representative for professional cosmetics

  Also: Specialist adviser in field sales

  With on-the-job training

  In field sales for a manufacturer or wholesaler you look after studios and spas, present products, and train the teams on site.

  What you bring:

  You know professional products, devices and everyday life in beauty studios from your own work.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the manufacturer or wholesaler, usually lasting a few weeks. A class B driving license is almost always required. Look for a permanent position: as a self-employed commercial agent you usually work on commission only and bear the risk yourself.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Cosmetics specialist adviser in a perfumery

  Also: Specialist salesperson for cosmetics

  With on-the-job training

  In perfumeries, drugstores or department stores you advise on care and makeup and sell products, with fixed opening hours instead of an appointment book.

  What you bring:

  You recognize skin types, know active ingredients and care routines, and can demonstrate products on the customer.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the store, usually lasting a few weeks, often with training from the brands. You can earn a qualification in retail through vocational training (Ausbildung) as salesperson (Verkäufer) or retail clerk (Kaufmann im Einzelhandel), which is often shortened with work experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsLots of contact with people

  €3,155gross per monthMedian salary

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• Podiatrist (Podologe)

  Also: Medical foot care specialist

  With further training

  As a podiatrist you also treat feet medically, for example in cases of diabetes, ingrown nails or corns, often on a doctor's prescription.

  What you bring:

  You work hygienically and precisely on skin and nails, recognize skin changes, and may already have done foot care.

  How to get there:

  You train at a state-recognized school, which takes two years full-time or up to four years part-time, and finish with a state exam. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus at least two years of completed vocational training. Recognized training as a beautician counts, while a private cosmetics course usually does not. Another completed training can be credited on request to the extent that it is equivalent.*Regulated by law (Podiatrists Act (PodG) §§ 1, 4, 5, 6).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people
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• Masseur and medical bath attendant

  With further training

  In massage practices, clinics and rehabilitation facilities you treat patients with massages and heat and water treatments on a doctor's prescription.

  What you bring:

  You work with your hands on the body and know massage techniques, skin care and relaxation treatments from the studio.

  How to get there:

  You train at a state-recognized school: a two-year course with a state exam, followed by six months of practical work. A lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) is already enough to get in. If you later want to become a physiotherapist, you can shorten that training to 18 months.*Regulated by law (Masseurs and Physiotherapists Act (MPhG)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,435gross per monthMedian salary

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• Medical assistant (MFA)

  Also: MFA in a dermatology practice

  With retraining

  In a doctor's practice, especially in dermatology or aesthetic medicine, you also handle reception, billing, blood sampling and assisting with treatments.

  What you bring:

  You know skin conditions and hygiene, and you know how to stay calm with customers who trust you.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational training (Ausbildung), which takes three years and is often shortened with work experience, or retraining (Umschulung), which usually takes about two years and can often be funded through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €3,270gross per monthMedian salary

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• Pharmaceutical commercial assistant (PKA)

  Also: Cosmetics adviser in a pharmacy

  With retraining

  In the pharmacy you order and store goods, check deliveries and advise on care and cosmetic products; pharmacy-only medicines are dispensed only by pharmaceutical-technical assistants (PTA) and pharmacists.

  What you bring:

  You know skin care, active ingredients and products and like advising customers.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational training (Ausbildung) as PKA (pharmazeutisch-kaufmännische Angestellte), which takes three years, or retraining (Umschulung), which can often be funded through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Some pharmacies with a large cosmetics area also hire beauticians directly for advice.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of contact with people

  €3,155gross per monthMedian salary

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• Master craftsperson in cosmetics (Kosmetikermeister)

  Also: Spa manager, Manager of a beauty institute

  With further trainingPromotion

  As master craftsperson or manager of an institute or spa area you lead the team, plan offers and purchasing, and train apprentices.

  What you bring:

  You know treatments, products, appointment planning and the wishes of customers from everyday studio life.

  How to get there:

  You take the master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the beautician trade at the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer). It usually takes one to two years alongside a job and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with a journeyman or final exam in a recognized training occupation. With a private cosmetics qualification, the way in is an assessment procedure that compares your work experience with the training occupation, or an exception granted by the chamber in individual cases. The beautician trade does not require a license, so the master qualification is voluntary, but it helps with management jobs and with training apprentices. Hotels and thermal baths often fill spa management positions with experienced beauticians who do not have a master qualification.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of contact with people

  €3,058gross 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.