Career change as a farmer

Career change paths

• Subsidy auditor for agriculture

  Also: Inspector at the agricultural office

  With on-the-job training

  In the inspection service you check on farms on site whether areas, animal numbers and requirements match the subsidy applications, re-measure areas and write inspection reports.

  What you bring:

  You know fields, crops, animal husbandry and the requirements of agricultural subsidies from the everyday life of your own farm.

  How to get there:

  Agricultural offices and payment agencies of the states hire inspectors with agricultural training for on-site checks; for permanent jobs a master or vocational college qualification is often expected. The authority provides training in subsidy law, measuring technology and software (Einarbeitung). Because areas are now mainly checked via a satellite-based monitoring system, there are fewer on-site checks, and jobs can be fixed-term or limited to the inspection season.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of time outdoors

  €3,822gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field technical advisor for seeds and plant protection

  Also: Sales advisor for agricultural machinery

  With on-the-job training

  In field sales for an agricultural merchant, seed company or agricultural machinery dealer you advise farms, look at stands and conditions of use, prepare offers and look after regular customers.

  What you bring:

  You know from your own experience which varieties, products and machines work in the field and what farmers look at when they buy.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training from the company (Einarbeitung) with product and sales training, usually a few weeks to months. A driving license class B is expected. For advising on plant protection products you need the plant protection expertise certificate (Sachkundenachweis Pflanzenschutz), and with your qualification as a farmer you usually meet the requirements for it. A master or vocational college qualification improves your chances; look for permanent employment instead of pure commission.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Biogas plant manager

  Also: Biogas plant attendant

  With on-the-job training

  As a plant attendant or plant manager you feed and monitor the biogas plant, check gas quality, digester values and technology and organize substrate, maintenance and documentation.

  What you bring:

  You know silage, slurry and manure as input materials, work with pumps, agitators and loading technology and plan according to season and harvest.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training from the operator or plant manufacturer (Einarbeitung), usually a few weeks to months. Operating staff of biogas plants also take training, for example on expertise under the Technical Rule for Plant Safety (TRAS 120), which usually takes a few days. Jobs are available at agricultural operators, energy suppliers and service providers. On-call duty for faults is usual.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact
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• Master farmer

  Also: Farm manager at an agricultural business

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a master craftsperson (Meister) or farm manager you plan growing, animal husbandry and work assignments, lead staff and trainees and are responsible for documentation, subsidy applications and profitability.

  What you bring:

  You know crop growing, animal husbandry, machinery and the yearly routines of a farm from your own work.

  How to get there:

  You take the master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) to become a master farmer (Landwirtschaftsmeister) at the responsible body. Preparation courses are usually alongside work and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with a qualification as a farmer (Landwirt) and then at least 2 years of work experience; with another agricultural qualification after 3 years, or without a qualification after at least 5 years of work experience in agriculture. Alternatively, the vocational college for agriculture (Fachschule für Agrarwirtschaft) leads to the qualification of state-certified agricultural business manager (staatlich geprüfter Agrarbetriebswirt). Salaried management jobs are mainly offered by larger agricultural businesses.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsPhysically demandingLittle customer contact
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• Plant production advisor

  Also: Technician in agricultural trials

  With further trainingPromotion

  In advisory work or trials you set up field trials, rate crop stands, evaluate results and advise farms on growing, fertilizing and plant protection.

  What you bring:

  You know from practice how soil, variety, fertilizing and plant protection work together and what questions farms really have in the field.

  How to get there:

  At the vocational college for agriculture (Fachschule für Agrarwirtschaft), you qualify, depending on the federal state, as a state-certified agricultural business manager (staatlich geprüfter Agrarbetriebswirt) or technician for agriculture (Techniker für Landbau). It usually takes 2 years full-time and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Access requires a qualification as a farmer and work experience; the state sets the exact rules. Jobs are available at farm advisory groups, chambers of agriculture, seed companies and trial stations. For advising on plant protection you need the plant protection expertise certificate (Sachkundenachweis Pflanzenschutz).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of time outdoors
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• Agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics technician

  Also: Service technician for agricultural technology

  With retraining

  In an agricultural technology workshop or at the manufacturer you service and repair machines, adjust electronics and hydraulics and also help customers directly in the field during the season.

  What you bring:

  You drive and maintain tractors, harvesters and attachments, recognize faults early and often do smaller repairs yourself in the farm workshop.

  How to get there:

  You can retrain (Umschulung) as an agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics technician (Land- und Baumaschinenmechatroniker/Land- und Baumaschinenmechatronikerin). It usually takes a good 2 years and is often funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). With your qualification as a farmer, the chamber can shorten a regular training. Some agricultural technology dealers also hire farmers for delivery, instruction and simple assembly and train them on the job. In harvest time, long days and weekend work are usual.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,584gross per monthMedian salary

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• Truck driver in agricultural trade

  Also: Driver for grain and feed transport

  With further training

  As a truck driver in agricultural trade you pick up the harvest at farms, deliver feed, fertilizer or seed and secure the load yourself.

  What you bring:

  You drive heavy combinations confidently and know farm tracks and farm entrances, and how to load and unload grain, fertilizer or feed.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE and the accelerated basic qualification with an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Together this usually takes a few months. Funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter approves it. The tractor license does not count for this. In agricultural trade, the harvest time and spring are especially busy.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV), Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Official veterinary assistant for slaughter animal and meat inspection

  With training or an exam

  As an official veterinary assistant you support the official veterinarian at the slaughterhouse in examining the animals before and after slaughter and watch hygiene and animal welfare.

  What you bring:

  You know cattle and pigs, recognize sick or conspicuous animals and know what matters in transport and animal welfare.

  How to get there:

  The veterinary authority appoints you after you complete training with theory and practice at the slaughterhouse, usually several months, and pass an exam organized by the states. You need at least a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss), a medical certificate and a criminal record certificate. The jobs are often part-time or paid by the hour with early starts, and you are employed by a district, city or state.*Regulated by law (Ordinance on Monitoring of Foods of Animal Origin (Tier-LMÜV) § 3, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/624 Annex II Chapter II).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,908gross per monthMedian salary

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• Pest controller

  With further training

  As a pest controller you check for and control rodents, insects and stored product pests in food businesses, agriculture and homes and advise on prevention.

  What you bring:

  You know rat and mouse infestations in barns and stores and carefully follow the rules when handling plant protection products and biocides.

  How to get there:

  You start at a pest control company with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). To use certain biocides independently, for example some rat poisons, you need expertise (Sachkunde) under the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, which you gain in an officially recognized course with an exam. The vocational qualification comes from vocational training (Ausbildung) as a pest controller (Schädlingsbekämpfer/Schädlingsbekämpferin), which takes 3 years, or, after 4.5 years of work experience, from the external exam (Externenprüfung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).*Regulated by law (Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) § 15c and Annex I number 4.4).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,555gross per monthMedian salary

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• Insemination technician

  Also: Authorized inseminator

  With further training

  As an insemination technician you drive to farms on behalf of an insemination station, inseminate animals, advise on the choice of sires and document every insemination.

  What you bring:

  You know cattle or pigs, heat detection, fertility and herd management from your own farm and handle animals calmly.

  How to get there:

  Under the Animal Breeding Act, you may only work as an authorized inseminator (Besamungsbeauftragter) if you have attended a course on artificial insemination at a recognized training center and passed the exam. This course is more extensive than the short course that allows animal keepers to inseminate only in their own herd. Insemination stations and breeding associations hire farmers with experience in animal husbandry and train them for the job. The tours start early, and weekend duty is usual.*Regulated by law (Animal Breeding Act (TierZG) § 15 para. 2).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of contact with people

  €2,913gross 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.