Career change as a detective (criminal police)

Career change paths

• Insurance investigator

  Also: Claims adjuster specializing in fraud prevention

  With on-the-job training

  At an insurer or an investigation service provider you examine suspicious claims, research the background and prepare cases for rejection or a criminal complaint.

  What you bring:

  You can establish facts, spot contradictions, question people and document your findings in a way that holds up in court.

  How to get there:

  Insurers and specialised service providers also hire former police officers and give them a few weeks to a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in insurance law and systems. Before you switch, clarify with your employing authority (Dienstherr) what leaving civil servant status means for your retirement provision.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €3,283gross per monthMedian salary

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• Private detective

  Also: Corporate investigator

  With on-the-job training

  In a detective agency or as a corporate investigator you investigate cases of theft, faked illness or competition violations for companies and law firms.

  What you bring:

  You are skilled at surveillance, questioning, research and clean documentation of evidence.

  How to get there:

  Detective agencies usually give former police officers only brief on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). If you start your own detective agency, you register it as a business. Note that as a private person you have much narrower powers than in the police service and must follow data protection rules strictly.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  €3,283gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of corporate security

  Also: Security consultant

  With on-the-job training

  In the in-house security department of a company, airport or hospital you prepare security concepts, lead security staff, investigate incidents and keep in contact with the police.

  What you bring:

  You know dangerous situations, operations planning, de-escalation and how to work with authorities.

  How to get there:

  Large companies also hire experienced police officers for their own security department and give them a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). If you work for a security company, your career examination (Laufbahnprüfung) in the police service replaces the instruction (Unterrichtung) and the expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) under security services law.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLittle customer contact

  €6,256gross per monthMedian salary

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• Customs officer in the enforcement service

  Also: Customs investigator

  With on-the-job training

  At customs you monitor the movement of goods, check for undeclared work, or investigate smuggling and tax offenses.

  What you bring:

  You bring investigative experience, knowledge of criminal and procedural law and routine in carrying out inspections.

  How to get there:

  You can switch to customs by transfer or through a new application. The new employing authority (Dienstherr) decides whether your career-track qualification is recognized and what induction you need.*Regulated by law (Federal Career Ordinance (BLV) §§ 50, 53).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift work

  €4,985gross per monthMedian salary

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• Clerk in the public order office

  Also: Clerk in the weapons authority

  With on-the-job training

  In a city or district administration you process administrative offenses and weapons or assembly matters, and you work closely with the police.

  What you bring:

  You know hazard prevention, public order law and how to deal with citizens in conflict situations.

  How to get there:

  Municipalities usually give police officers a few weeks to a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), and you can switch by transfer or through a new application. The work is mostly office-based, with regular hours instead of shift work (Schichtdienst).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €3,822gross per monthMedian salary

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• Trainer for de-escalation and violence prevention

  Also: Security trainer

  With on-the-job training

  As a trainer you train employees at Jobcenters, clinics, transport companies and other companies in de-escalation, self-protection and how to behave in emergencies.

  What you bring:

  You have experience with conflicts, threatening situations and holding conversations under pressure.

  How to get there:

  You can start, for example, with a trainer course whose duration depends on the provider, and often you first work on the side or freelance. While you are still in service, you must report side jobs to your employer or have them approved beforehand. Permanent positions exist at training providers, accident insurance funds (Unfallkassen) and large employers.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekends

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Investigator at a health insurance fund

  Also: Clerk for combating misconduct in healthcare

  With on-the-job training

  At a health or long-term care insurance fund you look into signs of billing fraud by care services, practices or insured people and work with the investigating authorities.

  What you bring:

  You can evaluate documents, recognize fraud patterns and prepare cases so that public prosecutors can work with them.

  How to get there:

  Health and long-term care funds have their own units for combating misconduct in healthcare and give career changers with investigation experience several months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in social law and billing.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €3,964gross per monthMedian salary

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• Driving instructor

  With further training

  As a driving instructor you train learner drivers in theory and practice and prepare them for the exams.

  What you bring:

  You know traffic law, hazard theory and the causes of accidents from many assignments, and you can instruct calmly and clearly.

  How to get there:

  You train at a driving instructor training school (Fahrlehrerausbildungsstätte) and at a training driving school, for class BE at least twelve months, followed by the driving instructor exam. After that the responsible authority issues the driving instructor licence. Requirements include a minimum age of 21, a class B driving licence held for at least three years and completed vocational training or equivalent prior education.*Regulated by law (Driving Instructor Act (FahrlG) §§ 1, 2, 7).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,977gross 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.