Career change as a speech therapist
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 7 with on-the-job training and 1 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
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Specialist advisor for augmentative and alternative communication (Unterstützte Kommunikation)
Also: Clinical specialist for hearing implants
With on-the-job training
At manufacturers of communication aids or hearing implants, you advise families, therapists and clinics, adjust devices and train users.
- What you bring:
- You know speech, language and hearing disorders and know which aids really help affected people in everyday life.
- How to get there:
- Manufacturers and specialist dealers give speech therapists and audiologists product training over a few weeks. With your training and the product training, you meet the expertise (Sachkenntnis) that the law requires for medical device consultants (Medizinprodukteberater). A driving license and willingness to travel are usually expected.*Regulated by law (Medical Devices Law Implementation Act (MPDG) § 83).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,550gross per monthMedian salary
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Voice and speech trainer
Also: Speech coach
With on-the-job training
As a trainer or coach, you work with teachers, managers or other people who have to speak a lot on voice, presence and impact.
- What you bring:
- You know how voice, breathing and articulation work and how to train them in a targeted way.
- How to get there:
- You work self-employed or for training providers. Short further training in adult education or coaching helps you get started. Expect a start-up period until enough assignments come in.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
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Language support worker in a Kita
Also: Specialist for language education in a Kita
With on-the-job training
In daycare centers (Kitas), you support children in small groups and advise early childhood educators and parents in everyday work.
- What you bring:
- You spot early when children have problems speaking or understanding and know how to support language through play.
- How to get there:
- Kita providers hire speech therapists for language support and train them on the job in pedagogy and daycare procedures. Each state regulates whether you count as an educational professional.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€3,892gross per monthMedian salary
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Specialist advisor for language education
Also: Coordinator for language support
With on-the-job training
At Kita providers, youth welfare offices or state institutes, you advise facilities, train professionals and develop concepts for language support.
- What you bring:
- You know language development, diagnostics and support methods precisely.
- How to get there:
- Providers and municipalities advertise such positions and usually expect a university degree and experience with children. You learn about educational concepts and procedures in the Kita world on the job, and further training in adult education helps.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€4,457gross per monthMedian salary
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Head of a therapy practice with several sites
Also: Head of therapy in a rehabilitation clinic
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As a manager, you organize therapy teams, duty rosters and quality and are the contact person for doctors, payers and clinic management.
- What you bring:
- You know therapy planning, prescriptions and billing with the insurance funds from practice.
- How to get there:
- Clinics and practice networks fill such positions with experienced therapists, and courses in practice management or leadership help with the step into management. With management tasks, you usually treat fewer patients yourself.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically light€5,115gross per monthMedian salary
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Specialist advisor for therapeutic remedies at a health insurance fund
Also: Clerk for therapeutic remedies
With on-the-job training
At a health insurance fund, you review applications and invoices, advise insured people and practices, and work predictable office hours.
- What you bring:
- You know prescriptions for therapeutic remedies, therapy needs and billing from practice.
- How to get there:
- Health insurance funds hire therapists with work experience as specialist advisors and train them internally in social insurance law and software.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office€3,964gross per monthMedian salary
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Editor at a trade publisher for therapy and education
Also: Author of therapy and support materials
With on-the-job training
At a trade publisher, you develop and edit therapy and support materials, specialist books or apps.
- What you bring:
- You know from therapy which exercises, pictures and games work for children and adults.
- How to get there:
- Trade publishers hire therapists with writing experience as editors or first commission them as authors. Published materials or specialist articles of your own improve your chances.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€4,728gross per monthMedian salary
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Teaching speech therapist (Lehrlogopäde)
Also: Teacher at a vocational school for speech therapy
With further training
At a vocational school for speech therapy, you teach therapy subjects, supervise internships and conduct exams.
- What you bring:
- You have many years of therapy experience and can teach diagnostics and treatment clearly.
- How to get there:
- Schools usually expect several years of work experience and further training in teaching or a corresponding degree. The exact requirements depend on the state and the school provider. You can start with individual lessons alongside your practice.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€5,140gross 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 speech therapist without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Specialist advisor for augmentative and alternative communication (Unterstützte Kommunikation), Voice and speech trainer, Language support worker in a Kita, Specialist advisor for language education, Head of a therapy practice with several sites, Specialist advisor for therapeutic remedies at a health insurance fund and Editor at a trade publisher for therapy and education.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a speech therapist?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Teaching speech therapist (Lehrlogopäde).
What promotion options do I have as a speech therapist?
Promotions include, for example: Head of a therapy practice with several sites.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Specialist advisor for augmentative and alternative communication (Unterstützte Kommunikation) (€5,550 gross per month), Voice and speech trainer (€5,254 gross per month) and Teaching speech therapist (Lehrlogopäde) (€5,140 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.
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