Career change as an art historian

Career change paths

• Ministry policy officer

  Also: Research assistant to a member of parliament

  With on-the-job training

  As a policy officer in a ministry, party or foundation or for members of parliament, you prepare positions, speeches and briefing papers.

  What you bring:

  You can evaluate sources, weigh arguments and summarize complex topics concisely.

  How to get there:

  Members of parliament, parliamentary groups and political foundations hire humanities graduates with a master's degree directly, and experience from internships or volunteering helps a lot. For the higher civil service (höherer Dienst), ministries usually require a master's degree.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• PR officer

  Also: Press officer

  With on-the-job training

  In the public relations department of a company, association, university or government agency, you write press releases and texts for the website and social media and handle inquiries.

  What you bring:

  You write with confidence and clarity and can adapt topics for different readers.

  How to get there:

  Employers train humanities graduates on the job, sometimes through a traineeship (Volontariat) in public relations. Various providers offer further training as a PR officer alongside work, and the length depends on the provider.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible

  €5,318gross per monthMedian salary

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• Education officer in civic education

  Also: Adult education instructor

  With on-the-job training

  At foundations, education institutes, memorial sites or adult education centers (Volkshochschulen), you plan and lead seminars, workshops and study trips.

  What you bring:

  You can convey political and historical topics clearly and moderate discussions.

  How to get there:

  Providers of civic education hire humanities graduates with a master's degree, often on fixed-term, project-funded contracts. Experience as a freelance instructor makes it easier to get in.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,166gross per monthMedian salary

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• Technical writer

  Also: Copywriter

  With on-the-job training

  As a technical writer, you create instructions, help texts and documentation for machines and software, often in close coordination with engineers.

  What you bring:

  You can structure complicated content and write it up clearly.

  How to get there:

  Companies in industry and services train humanities graduates on the job. Various providers offer further training with a certificate, for example based on tekom standards, and the length depends on the provider. An interest in technology is a requirement.*

  * 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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• HR officer

  Also: Recruiter

  With on-the-job training

  As a recruiter or HR officer, you select applicants, hold job interviews and look after employees in HR matters.

  What you bring:

  You listen well, can size people up and lead conversations.

  How to get there:

  Companies and staffing agencies train humanities graduates in recruiting. Courses on employment law help, and the length depends on the provider.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible

  €5,147gross per monthMedian salary

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• Information manager

  Also: Records manager

  With on-the-job training

  As an information or records manager, you organize filing, document management systems and retention periods in companies, government agencies or clinics.

  What you bring:

  You can sort, catalog and assess records and keep them accessible in the long term.

  How to get there:

  Companies and government agencies hire archivists for document management and train them in their software. Courses on records management or electronic files (E-Akte) help you get started, and the length depends on the provider. You then work more with current records than with historical ones.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,911gross per monthMedian salary

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• Museum director

  Also: Head of an archive

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As head of a museum or archive, you are responsible for the program, staff, budget and funding applications.

  What you bring:

  You know collections, exhibitions, cataloging and public outreach and work with sponsoring bodies, funders and the public.

  How to get there:

  Management positions in smaller and mid-sized institutions are often filled with experienced curators or archivists. You learn budgeting, staff management and funding law on the job. For larger institutions, a doctorate (Promotion) and leadership experience are usually expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light
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• Editor at a nonfiction publisher

  Also: Editor for history and culture

  With on-the-job training

  In the editorial department of a nonfiction or art book publisher, you work with manuscripts and authors; as an editor, you write for magazines, media or online outlets on history and culture.

  What you bring:

  You can check sources, read texts closely and present complex content clearly.

  How to get there:

  Publishers usually take on humanities graduates through a traineeship (Volontariat) or freelance work. Work samples and subject knowledge are important.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €4,237gross per monthMedian salary

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• Expert at an auction house

  Also: Appraiser for art and antiques

  With on-the-job training

  At an auction house or art dealer, you appraise consignments, estimate values, write catalog texts and advise collectors.

  What you bring:

  You can date objects, classify them, check them for authenticity and research their origin.

  How to get there:

  Auction houses and art dealers train art historians and museum staff in market knowledge, law and procedures. You can only become a publicly appointed and sworn-in expert (öffentlich bestellter und vereidigter Sachverständiger) after the chamber has verified your special expertise.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people
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• Study tour guide

  Also: City tour guide

  With on-the-job training

  As a study tour guide, you accompany groups on cultural and educational trips; as a city tour guide, you lead tours through cities, museums and memorial sites.

  What you bring:

  You know history, art and culture and can talk about them in a lively way.

  How to get there:

  Study tour operators train academics with subject knowledge and foreign languages in tour guiding and group leading. Cities and associations offer city guide courses, and the length depends on the provider. The work is often seasonal and freelance.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €3,640gross per monthMedian salary

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• History or politics teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg)

  Also: Ethics or philosophy teacher

  With a degree

  Through the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg), you teach history, politics, ethics or philosophy at secondary schools where the federal state needs teachers.

  What you bring:

  You can explain historical and political connections and lead discussions.

  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 history, politics, ethics or philosophy 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

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• German as a second language teacher

  Also: Teacher in integration and orientation courses

  With further training

  As a teacher, you teach immigrants in integration courses and vocational language courses.

  What you bring:

  You express yourself precisely and can explain language and society, and in the orientation course also history and politics.

  How to get there:

  For integration courses you need approval from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge). With a degree in history, philosophy or politics, it requires 600 teaching units of language teaching experience in adult education or a recognized certificate in German as a foreign language, plus the additional qualification in German as a second language (Zusatzqualifizierung Deutsch als Zweitsprache) of 140 teaching units or an equivalent recognized certificate. Some teachers work on a freelance basis.*Regulated by law (Integration Course Ordinance (IntV) § 15 (1)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,890gross 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.