Career change as an editor (publishing)

Career change paths

• PR officer

  Also: Corporate communications officer

  With on-the-job training

  In press offices, agencies or associations, you write press releases, speeches and articles and handle media inquiries.

  What you bring:

  You write confidently in different tones, research thoroughly and get to the point.

  How to get there:

  Companies, agencies and organizations hire experienced authors with work samples directly. A PR traineeship (Volontariat) or a course in public relations helps you get in. Fixed working hours are more common than in freelance writing.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €5,318gross per monthMedian salary

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• Content marketing manager

  Also: Content strategist

  With on-the-job training

  In content marketing, you plan content for a company's website, newsletter and social media and evaluate what works.

  What you bring:

  You can tell stories, address target groups and write texts for different channels.

  How to get there:

  Companies and agencies hire authors who have work samples, and you can learn search engine optimization and analysis tools in courses whose length depends on the provider.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €5,385gross per monthMedian salary

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• Editor

  Also: Online editor

  With on-the-job training

  In newspaper, magazine or online editorial offices, you write and edit articles and plan topics.

  What you bring:

  You research, write quickly and cleanly and can shape topics for readers.

  How to get there:

  The classic route is a traineeship (Volontariat), usually 1 to 2 years. With published work, direct entry also works. You can work in a permanent position or freelance.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €4,728gross per monthMedian salary

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• E-learning author

  Also: Creative writing instructor

  With on-the-job training

  As an e-learning author, you write learning modules and scripts for companies and education providers; as an instructor, you teach writing courses at adult education centers (Volkshochschulen) and academies.

  What you bring:

  You can structure content, explain it clearly and keep readers engaged.

  How to get there:

  Education providers commission authors with work samples, often on a freelance basis at first. You can learn authoring tools in courses whose length depends on the provider. Permanent positions exist more in e-learning than in writing courses.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Literary translator

  Also: Subtitler

  With on-the-job training

  If you have a very strong command of a foreign language, you translate books, subtitles or texts for publishers, broadcasters and agencies.

  What you bring:

  You have a fine sense of language, style and nuance, which is decisive in translating.

  How to get there:

  Literary translation is not a protected occupation, and publishers look for sample translations and references. Translators' associations and academies offer further training. For certified translations (beglaubigte Übersetzungen), you need an authorization or swearing-in under state law, which requires an exam.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €3,730gross per monthMedian salary

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• Podcast producer

  Also: Audio producer

  With on-the-job training

  As a producer, you develop podcasts, radio plays or video formats, write scripts, conduct interviews and oversee the production.

  What you bring:

  You can build stories, write dialogue and sustain suspense, which every good audio or video production needs.

  How to get there:

  Broadcasters, production companies and agencies hire authors with work samples, and you can learn editing and recording technology in courses whose length depends on the provider. Some assignments are project-based.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightHome office possible

  €4,200gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of communications

  Also: Press spokesperson

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a press spokesperson or head of communications, you are responsible for an organization's communications, advise senior management and lead a small team.

  What you bring:

  You can formulate messages clearly, set topics and know the media and publishers from the inside.

  How to get there:

  This move usually works out after a few years as an officer in a press office or PR agency. You learn crisis communication and media training in seminars and on the job.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €7,384gross per monthMedian salary

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• Cultural manager

  Also: Head of a literary center (Literaturhaus)

  With on-the-job training

  As a cultural manager, you plan readings, festivals and writing workshops, apply for funding and look after authors.

  What you bring:

  You know the literary scene, publishers, readings and funding programs from your own experience.

  How to get there:

  Literary centers, cultural offices and festivals hire people from the literary scene, often on a project basis at first. Courses in cultural management alongside work help.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people
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• Scientific officer at a project management agency (Projektträger)

  Also: Policy advisor in a ministry

  With on-the-job training

  At project management agencies, ministries or funding organizations, you look after funding programs, review applications, support projects and advise politicians.

  What you bring:

  You know research funding, grant applications and peer review from your own experience and can assess research projects professionally.

  How to get there:

  Project management agencies and funding organizations hire scientists with a doctorate and train them on the job in grant law and administrative procedures. Ministries are part of the public service, and project management agencies work on behalf of the federal and state governments.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Management consultant

  Also: Strategy consultant

  With on-the-job training

  At a management consultancy, you work on projects for companies or public clients on strategy, organization or technology questions.

  What you bring:

  You can get up to speed on new topics quickly, analyze data and present results convincingly.

  How to get there:

  Consultancies also hire people with a doctorate and train them in their methods. Selection procedures with case studies are usual, and you can practice for them specifically. Expect a high workload and a lot of travel.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,768gross per monthMedian salary

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• Data scientist

  Also: Data analyst

  With on-the-job training

  You work with statistics, large datasets and often with programming languages such as Python or R. As a data scientist or data analyst, you analyze data for companies, insurers or authorities, build forecasting models and explain results to the specialist departments.

  How to get there:

  Companies often hire people with a doctorate in quantitative subjects directly. If you lack basics in databases or machine learning, courses lasting a few weeks to a few months help. A project of your own with real data often convinces more in an interview than a certificate.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €6,500gross per monthMedian salary

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• Application specialist

  Also: Product specialist for laboratory technology

  With on-the-job training

  As an application specialist at a manufacturer, you demonstrate devices, train customers, develop applications and give technical support to sales.

  What you bring:

  You know measuring devices, laboratory methods and software from your research and can talk to professionals as an equal.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers of laboratory, analytical and medical technology hire natural scientists with a doctorate and train them in their products. 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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• Regulatory affairs manager

  Also: Medicines approval officer

  With on-the-job training

  In regulatory affairs at pharma, medical technology or chemical companies, you prepare approval documents, track legal requirements and stay in contact with authorities.

  What you bring:

  You can read scientific data precisely, assess it and turn it into structured documents.

  How to get there:

  Companies hire natural scientists with a doctorate and train them on the job in approval law and procedures. Part-time courses in regulatory affairs take a few weeks to a few months. Good English is required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €7,039gross per monthMedian salary

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• Study program coordinator

  Also: Head of an adult education institution

  With on-the-job training

  As coordinator or head, you organize degree programs, continuing education programs or an educational institution, look after lecturers and students, and ensure accreditation and quality.

  What you bring:

  You know degree programs, examination regulations, course planning and the processes at universities precisely.

  How to get there:

  Universities, academies and adult education centers hire people with a doctorate and teaching experience for science and education management. Part-time courses on this take a few weeks to a few months. As administrative and management staff, you do not fall under the special fixed-term rules for academic staff, but fixed-term positions exist here too.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Secondary school teacher (Gymnasium)

  Also: Teacher of mathematics or natural sciences

  With a degree

  At a secondary school, you teach your subjects, guide classes over several years and prepare them for final exams.

  What you bring:

  You can explain difficult material, plan courses and conduct exams.

  How to get there:

  The states regulate the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg) differently. It is possible if teaching subjects can be derived from your degree and schools advertise positions for career changers. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, the preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) alongside work takes 24 months and requires two subjects and two years of work experience after your degree.*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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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.