Career change as a teacher

Career change paths

• In-company trainer

  Also: Learning and development specialist

  With on-the-job training

  In companies or at training providers, you plan training sessions, develop learning programs and support employees in their development.

  What you bring:

  You can structure content well, lead groups and assess learning progress.

  How to get there:

  Companies and education providers also hire teachers and train them on the job in adult education and HR development, and a trainer or coaching certificate can help you get started. If you are a civil servant (verbeamtet), first clarify what leaving the civil service means for your pension.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €4,462gross per monthMedian salary

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• E-learning author

  Also: Instructional designer

  With on-the-job training

  As an e-learning author or instructional designer, you develop digital courses, learning videos and training programs for companies, publishers or education providers.

  What you bring:

  You know how to prepare learning material, set tasks and check learning results.

  How to get there:

  Companies and agencies train teachers on authoring tools and learning platforms. Courses on these usually take a few days to a few weeks. Some positions allow working from home.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Specialist advisor in school supervision

  Also: Policy advisor at a state institute for school quality

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  In school supervision, a school office or a state institute, you advise schools, help develop curricula and further training, and support quality development.

  What you bring:

  You know teaching, curricula and school development from many years of practice.

  How to get there:

  Such positions are usually advertised internally for experienced teachers, often first as a secondment. The school administration of your state makes the selection. You then teach little or not at all.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €7,050gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of an adult education center (Volkshochschule)

  Also: Department head in adult education

  With on-the-job training

  At adult education centers (Volkshochschulen) or training providers, you plan the course offering, recruit lecturers and are responsible for quality and budget.

  What you bring:

  You know learning processes, lesson planning and organization and have experience with groups and teaching staffs.

  How to get there:

  Adult education centers and training providers advertise such positions publicly, and experience in organization and leadership is important. You learn funding law and administration on the job.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €5,151gross per monthMedian salary

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• Career advisor

  Also: Study advisor

  With on-the-job training

  As a career or study advisor at the Federal Employment Agency or a university, you advise young people and adults on decisions about training, study and career.

  What you bring:

  You have supported young people in choosing a career and know school qualifications, training paths and degree programs.

  How to get there:

  The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) also hires university graduates with counseling experience as career changers and qualifies them in-house for career guidance. Universities usually advertise positions in study counseling publicly.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,521gross per monthMedian salary

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• Museum educator

  Also: Education officer at a memorial site

  With on-the-job training

  In museums, memorial sites or science centers, you develop tours, workshops and materials for schools and families.

  What you bring:

  You can present content to school classes and groups in a lively way and know the curricula exactly.

  How to get there:

  Museums and memorial sites often hire teachers with a suitable subject, such as history, art or biology, or first commission them on a freelance basis. When you apply, ask whether the position is fixed-term.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people
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• Editor at an education publisher

  Also: Textbook editor (Lektor)

  With on-the-job training

  At an education publisher, you plan textbooks and digital learning media, support author teams and check that the content matches the curricula.

  What you bring:

  You know from teaching which tasks, texts and materials work and which do not.

  How to get there:

  Education publishers hire teachers directly as editors, sometimes after a traineeship (Volontariat). First experience as a textbook author helps with your application.*

  * 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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• Training advisor at a chamber

  Also: Policy advisor for vocational training

  With on-the-job training

  At Chambers of Industry and Commerce, Chambers of Crafts or associations, you advise training companies, mediate conflicts and help develop training rules.

  What you bring:

  You know training regulations, the exam system and the problems companies have with apprentices.

  How to get there:

  Chambers and associations train experienced vocational education professionals on the job in vocational training law and chamber procedures. Positions are advertised regionally.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,034gross per monthMedian salary

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• IT trainer

  Also: Trainer for digital skills

  With on-the-job training

  As an IT trainer, you train employees in software, digital ways of working or applications of your field.

  What you bring:

  You explain well and have experience with digital learning tools and specialist software.

  How to get there:

  Training providers and companies train teachers with good IT skills on the job. Vendor certificates for the software being taught usually take a few days to a few weeks. Besides permanent positions, there is also freelance work.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,449gross per monthMedian salary

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• Application consultant in technical sales

  Also: Training officer at a device manufacturer

  With on-the-job training

  At manufacturers of machines, teaching aids or medical technology, you advise customers, demonstrate products and train users.

  What you bring:

  If you teach technical subjects, you can demonstrate devices and processes clearly.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers give teachers with a technical background product training over a few weeks. Expect travel to customers and trade fairs.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Teacher in integration courses

  Also: Teacher of German as a second language

  With further training

  In integration and vocational language courses, you teach adults who learn German for everyday life and work.

  What you bring:

  You can teach language systematically and lead learning groups with very different prior knowledge.

  How to get there:

  For integration courses, you need approval from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge). Without a degree in German as a foreign or second language, you usually only get it after an additional qualification that takes a few weeks to a few months. You work on a freelance basis or as an employee of a course provider.*Regulated by law (Integration Course Ordinance (IntV) § 15).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,890gross per monthMedian salary

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• Special needs teacher

  Also: Teacher at a special needs school (Förderschule)

  With training or an exam

  As a special needs teacher, you support children with special educational needs at special needs schools or in inclusive classes.

  What you bring:

  You know learning difficulties, support plans and mixed classes from everyday primary school work.

  How to get there:

  In some states, teachers can gain the special needs teaching qualification (Lehramt für Sonderpädagogik) alongside their work, in North Rhine-Westphalia for example in 18 months in one specialization, ending with a state exam. Each state regulates access, duration and qualification itself.*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 lightLots of contact with people

  €5,110gross 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.