Career change as a food technician
With your experience you can switch to 9 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 3 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
-
Head of plant logistics
Also: Head of materials management
With on-the-job training
In plant logistics or materials management, you lead goods receipt, warehouse and internal transport, steer stock levels and make sure the lines are supplied on time.
- What you bring:
- You know how material, deadlines and capacity are connected and what a supply shortage means for production.
- How to get there:
- Industrial companies often fill such positions internally with managers from production and train them in warehouse management and the ERP system. Courses on logistics and materials management at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or training providers help you get in and can be done alongside work.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically lightLittle customer contact€6,004gross per monthMedian salary
-
Work preparation planner (Arbeitsvorbereiter)
Also: Production planner
With on-the-job training
In work planning or production planning, you create work plans and production orders, plan capacity in the ERP system and usually work without shift work (Schichtdienst).
- What you bring:
- You know the machines, setup times and bottlenecks of production precisely and can realistically judge what is feasible in what time.
- How to get there:
- Companies train experienced master craftspeople and shift supervisors in planning software and the ERP system for a few weeks to months. Courses on REFA methods or production planning at training providers are an advantage, but not mandatory.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€4,873gross per monthMedian salary
-
Technical field sales representative
Also: Sales representative for industrial supplies
With on-the-job training
In technical field sales, you advise industrial customers on tools, operating materials or plants, prepare offers and look after customers in the long term.
- What you bring:
- You know processes, machines and materials in production and understand the cost and time pressure that manufacturing companies are under.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers and dealers train specialists from production with product and sales training over a few months. A class B driving license is usually expected. Look for permanent employment, because as a self-employed commercial agent you mostly work on commission only.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,550gross per monthMedian salary
-
Lean manager
Also: Process optimizer in production
With on-the-job training
As a lean manager, you analyze processes with methods such as value stream analysis and the continuous improvement process, facilitate workshops and support changes through to implementation.
- What you bring:
- You know waste, waiting times and bottlenecks in production from your own experience and have improved processes yourself.
- How to get there:
- Larger industrial companies often use experienced master craftspeople for this and send them to courses on lean management or Six Sigma, which usually take a few days to a few weeks. Some job ads require a degree; in that case, provable improvements from your company help as evidence of your experience.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact€6,917gross per monthMedian salary
-
Technical buyer
Also: Buyer for technical components
With on-the-job training
In technical purchasing, you select suppliers, negotiate terms, check offers technically and handle complaints.
- What you bring:
- You can read drawings, specifications and test reports and know what quality a purchased part must have.
- How to get there:
- Industrial companies usually train technicians in purchasing over a few months. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and associations offer courses on purchasing, contract law and negotiation alongside work. English skills are often expected.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€5,204gross per monthMedian salary
-
Design engineer
Also: CAD design engineer
With on-the-job training
In design, you create parts, assemblies and drawings with CAD software and coordinate changes with production and quality assurance.
- What you bring:
- You understand components, tolerances and manufacturing processes and know what a drawing needs so that production succeeds.
- How to get there:
- Companies train technicians with production experience in design, and CAD courses for programs such as SolidWorks or Creo usually take a few weeks. If you already did design work in your technician training, getting in is faster.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,180gross per monthMedian salary
-
Plant manager in production
Also: Works manager
With further trainingPromotion
As a plant or works manager, you are responsible for a whole production area or site with budget, investments and staff and work closely with purchasing, sales and senior management.
- What you bring:
- You already lead teams, plan shifts and capacity and know the key metrics of your production.
- How to get there:
- You can take the upgrading course for certified technical business manager (Geprüfter Technischer Betriebswirt) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) alongside work. It is eligible for funding through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications), and the duration depends on the provider. You are admitted with a master craftsperson (Meister) or technician exam, as a certified technical senior specialist (Technischer Fachwirt) or as an engineer with two years of practice. Works management positions are usually only given after several years of leadership experience, and in large groups often also to university graduates.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically lightLittle customer contact€6,633gross per monthMedian salary
-
Occupational safety specialist (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit)
With further training
As an occupational safety specialist, you advise companies, prepare risk assessments (Gefährdungsbeurteilungen), investigate accidents and train employees.
- What you bring:
- You know accident hazards at machines, in internal transport and in handling hazardous substances and know how to enforce protective rules in everyday shift work.
- How to get there:
- With a master craftsperson (Meister) or technician exam and subsequent work experience, you generally meet the requirements. After that comes the training as an occupational safety specialist at a statutory accident insurance body or recognized training provider. It runs alongside work in several stages with classroom and self-study phases.*Regulated by law (Occupational Safety Act (ASiG) § 7, DGUV Regulation 2 § 4).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€4,948gross per monthMedian salary
-
Trainer in industry
Also: Head of a training workshop
With further trainingPromotion
As a trainer, you look after apprentices in the training workshop and in production, plan the training according to the framework plan and prepare them for exams.
- What you bring:
- You know production, quality assurance and work organization from practice and have experience guiding employees.
- How to get there:
- As a certified industrial foreman (Industriemeister), you have usually already proven the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung). Otherwise you prove it in an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Preparation courses are optional, and their length depends on the provider. Full-time trainer positions exist, for example, in larger industrial companies and training centers.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Ordinance on Trainer Aptitude (AEVO)).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact€4,462gross per monthMedian salary
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a food technician without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Head of plant logistics, Work preparation planner (Arbeitsvorbereiter), Technical field sales representative, Lean manager, Technical buyer and Design engineer.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a food technician?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Plant manager in production, Occupational safety specialist (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit) and Trainer in industry.
What promotion options do I have as a food technician?
Promotions include, for example: Plant manager in production and Trainer in industry.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Lean manager (€6,917 gross per month), Plant manager in production (€6,633 gross per month) and Head of plant logistics (€6,004 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
Your job is not listed?
One sentence from you is enough.
Enter what you do today, in your own words if you like.
You see right away where you can switch to.