Career change as a courier driver

Career change paths

• Taxi dispatcher

  Also: Dispatcher at a courier service

  With on-the-job training

  In the dispatching of a taxi center, a driving service or a courier service, you take orders and distribute them among the drivers.

  What you bring:

  You know the city, the traffic situation at any time of day and the wishes of passengers or customers exactly.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the center, usually lasting a few weeks, with training in the dispatching software. For dispatching at freight forwarders, retraining (Umschulung) later as a clerk for freight forwarding and logistics services (Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Spedition und Logistikdienstleistung) helps.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €4,414gross per monthMedian salary

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• Letter and parcel deliverer

  Also: Courier, express and postal services specialist

  With on-the-job training

  At a postal company, you deliver letters and parcels in a fixed district, often on foot, by bike or with an e-vehicle.

  What you bring:

  You already know delivery, scanners, addresses and time pressure and are on the road in all weather.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the postal company, usually lasting a few days to weeks. A recognized qualification comes from vocational training (Ausbildung) as a courier, express and postal services specialist (Fachkraft für Kurier-, Express- und Postdienstleistungen; 2 years). Without training, you can be admitted to the final exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) after 3 years of work experience (§ 45 para. 2 BBiG), and the IHK checks whether your work fits.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of time outdoors

  €2,921gross per monthMedian salary

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• Forklift driver

  Also: Warehouse worker with a forklift license

  With on-the-job training

  As a forklift driver, you work permanently at one site, unload trucks and store and retrieve pallets.

  What you bring:

  You are used to sorting parcels, loading vehicles and working with delivery notes and a scanner.

  How to get there:

  You need a forklift license under DGUV Principle 308-001 (DGUV Grundsatz 308-001). The course usually takes 1 to 3 days, followed by an introduction at the company. The course is partly funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein), and companies can also train their staff themselves.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,198gross per monthMedian salary

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• Receptionist

  Also: Hotel front desk agent

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  At the reception, you check guests in and out, manage reservations in the hotel system, settle bills and are the contact person for all requests.

  What you bring:

  If you work as a bellhop, doorman or porter in a hotel, you know guests, processes and the whole house.

  How to get there:

  You can move internally to the reception, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) usually lasting a few weeks. English skills are almost always expected, and shift and weekend work are usual. With the training as a hotel specialist (Hotelfachmann/Hotelfachfrau), 3 years and shortenable on request, more hotels and management positions are open to you later.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,034gross per monthMedian salary

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• Professional driver

  Also: Truck driver

  With further trainingPromotion

  With a truck license and professional driver qualification, you drive larger loads in freight transport.

  What you bring:

  You are confident in road traffic, know routes, time pressure and customer contact and like working independently.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE plus the accelerated basic qualification (Grundqualifikation; 140 hours of instruction with an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, IHK). Together they usually take a few months and are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). The alternative is vocational training (Ausbildung) as a professional driver (Berufskraftfahrer/in), 3 years.*Regulated by law (Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV), Driving License Ordinance (FeV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Bus driver in scheduled service

  Also: Coach driver

  With further training

  As a bus driver, you drive fixed lines or trips and are the contact person for passengers.

  What you bring:

  You transport passengers safely and in a friendly way, know the city or region and stay calm in dense traffic.

  How to get there:

  You need driving license class D plus the accelerated basic qualification for passenger transport (140 hours of instruction with an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, IHK). Together they usually take a few months and are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Some transport companies also train career changers themselves.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV), Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,585gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train driver

  Also: Locomotive driver

  With further training

  In the driver's cab of a locomotive or multiple unit, you drive passenger or freight trains according to signals and fixed regulations.

  What you bring:

  You drive in a focused way for many hours, keep to schedules and are used to shift and weekend work.

  How to get there:

  You qualify as a train driver (Triebfahrzeugführer) with a railway company or training provider, usually in about one year, and it is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). A medical and a psychological fitness examination are also required.*Regulated by law (Train Driver License Ordinance (TfV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,322gross per monthMedian salary

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• Driving instructor

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a driving instructor, you teach learner drivers to drive in theory and practice.

  What you bring:

  You have been driving every day for years and know traffic rules, typical dangers and other people's mistakes up close.

  How to get there:

  Training takes place at a driving instructor training center and lasts at least 12 months for class BE, with a practical part at a training driving school. Requirements include a minimum age of 21, a class B driving license for at least three years and a completed vocational training or equivalent prior education. The training is partly eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*Regulated by law (Driving Instructor Act (FahrlG) § 2).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,977gross per monthMedian salary

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• Emergency medical technician

  Also: Paramedic

  With further training

  In the ambulance service and in qualified patient transport, medical care and teamwork on the vehicle come on top.

  What you bring:

  Especially from patient transport or driving services, you know how to deal with sick and elderly people, and you drive safely even under time pressure.

  How to get there:

  Emergency medical technician (Rettungssanitäter/in): a course under state law, usually 520 hours, about 3 months full-time. Paramedic (Notfallsanitäter/in): training of 3 years with training pay. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) and at least two years of vocational training. For the ambulance, a driving license C1 is often required.*Regulated by law (Paramedic Act (NotSanG) § 8; emergency medical technicians under the ambulance service laws of the federal states).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,175gross per monthMedian salary

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• Automotive mechatronics technician

  With retraining

  In the workshop, you learn to find faults and to service and repair vehicles.

  What you bring:

  You know your vehicle exactly, do checks and notice early when something is wrong with the brakes, tires or engine.

  How to get there:

  Retraining (Umschulung) as an automotive mechatronics technician (Kfz-Mechatroniker/in) usually takes a good 2 years and is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Regular vocational training (Ausbildung) takes 3.5 years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,527gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train attendant

  Also: Customer service employee in regional transport

  With training or an exam

  On the train, you check tickets, inform passengers about delays and help travelers.

  What you bring:

  You deal with passengers every day, give information and stay friendly and firm even in difficult situations.

  How to get there:

  You qualify with the railway company, usually in a few weeks to a few months, with an exam and a medical fitness examination. Shift and weekend work are part of the job.*Regulated by law (Railway Construction and Operating Regulations (EBO) §§ 47, 48).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people

  €3,568gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse specialist

  Also: Warehouse logistics specialist

  With retrainingPromotion

  In the warehouse, you take care of goods receipt, storage, picking and shipping, without the pressure of the route.

  What you bring:

  You scan shipments, load vehicles in the right order and know the processes at the depot.

  How to get there:

  Retraining (Umschulung) as a warehouse specialist (Fachlagerist/in) usually takes about 16 months, and as a warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) usually 2 years. Both are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein), and the forklift license is usually included.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,235gross per monthMedian salary

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• Security guard

  Also: Property protection worker

  With further training

  In property or plant security, you check access points, do rounds and respond correctly to disruptions.

  What you bring:

  You work reliably alone, keep to fixed routines and stay calm even with difficult customers.

  How to get there:

  Briefing under § 34a GewO (Unterrichtung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) takes 40 teaching hours, plus a reliability check by the authority. For inspection rounds in publicly accessible areas, protection against shoplifters or admission to discos, you need the expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) at the IHK instead.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Code (GewO) § 34a, Security Services Ordinance (BewachV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demanding

  €3,200gross 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.