Career change as a mechanical engineering technician

Career change paths

• Commissioning technician

  Also: Service technician in plant engineering

  With on-the-job training

  As a commissioning technician, you put machines and plants into operation at the customer's site, adjust them, train the operating staff and document the acceptance.

  What you bring:

  You understand mechanics, hydraulics and pneumatics working together, read plans confidently and narrow down faults systematically.

  How to get there:

  Machine and plant builders usually train technicians on their own plants over a few months, often with courses on control technology. Expect travel at home and abroad. English skills and a class B driving license are usually expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,191gross per monthMedian salary

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• Technical sales representative

  Also: Application engineer in sales

  With on-the-job training

  In technical sales, you advise customers, clarify requirements, prepare offers with the engineering department and support projects up to delivery.

  What you bring:

  You can explain technical solutions in an understandable way and know what customers in mechanical engineering care about in terms of performance, maintenance and service life.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers and dealers train technicians with product and sales training over a few months. A confident manner, willingness to travel and often good English are in demand. A class B driving license is usually required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Expert for machines and plants

  Also: Claims adjuster in technical insurance

  With on-the-job training

  As an expert or claims adjuster, you assess machine damage for insurers, leasing companies or courts, evaluate repair options and residual values and write expert reports.

  What you bring:

  You can tell wear, operating errors and design defects on machines apart and describe technical connections objectively.

  How to get there:

  Expert offices and insurers train technicians with work experience themselves, often supplemented by courses of a few weeks at training providers or expert associations. You only become publicly appointed and sworn in after several years of practice, and the chamber decides after checking your special expertise.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours

  €6,614gross per monthMedian salary

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• Technical buyer

  Also: Supplier manager

  With on-the-job training

  As a technical buyer, you obtain offers, compare suppliers, negotiate terms and clarify technical questions with design and quality assurance.

  What you bring:

  You read drawings, tolerances and material specifications and can judge whether a supplied part fits technically.

  How to get there:

  Industrial companies usually train technicians in purchasing over a few months. You can add business basics in courses at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or training providers. Later, a business upgrading course at the IHK is an option, for example in purchasing and logistics.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €5,204gross per monthMedian salary

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• Technical facility manager

  Also: Head of building services

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a technical facility manager, you manage building services, maintenance contractors and inspection deadlines for large buildings such as office complexes, clinics or shopping centers.

  What you bring:

  You understand systems such as ventilation, heating, elevators or compressed air technically and can plan maintenance and upkeep.

  How to get there:

  Facility management service providers and large real estate companies hire technicians with maintenance experience and train them in building services and operator duties. Training providers offer courses on building services and operator responsibility alongside work in a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically light
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• Production manager

  Also: Head of production

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a production manager, you plan staff, machines and deadlines, ensure quality and on-time delivery and are the main point of contact for employees and management.

  What you bring:

  You know machines, manufacturing processes and technical documents and can assess faults and processes technically.

  How to get there:

  Companies also fill production management positions with experienced technicians, often after a few years as a shift or group leader. The upgrading course for certified technical business manager (Geprüfter Technischer Betriebswirt) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) prepares you for leadership tasks and cost accounting. You can take it alongside work, it is eligible for funding through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications), and the duration depends on the provider.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €6,633gross per monthMedian salary

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• Occupational safety specialist (Fachkraft für Arbeitssicherheit)

  With further training

  As an occupational safety specialist, you advise companies, prepare risk assessments (Gefährdungsbeurteilungen), inspect workplaces and train employees, employed in a company or at an external service.

  What you bring:

  You know machines, safety devices and dangers in the workshop and in production from your own experience.

  How to get there:

  With your technician qualification 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

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• Trainer for metal and mechatronics trades

  Also: Trainer in a training workshop

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a trainer, you accompany apprentices in the training workshop and in the company, plan projects and prepare them for their exams.

  What you bring:

  You understand mechanical engineering in theory and practice and can explain the path from drawing through production to assembly clearly.

  How to get there:

  With a vocational qualification, a technician qualification and work practice, you are professionally suitable. In addition, you need the trainer aptitude exam (Ausbildereignung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), and the course for it takes a few weeks, also alongside work. Full-time trainer positions exist mainly in large companies and training centers. Depending on the federal state, you can also become a practical-skills teacher (Lehrkraft für Fachpraxis) at a vocational school with a technician qualification.*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

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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.