Career change as a dairy technologist

Career change paths

• Employee in the dairy lab

  Also: Lab worker in raw milk testing

  With on-the-job training

  In the lab of a dairy or a raw milk testing lab you analyze samples with measuring devices and microbiological tests and document the results for quality assurance and milk payment settlement.

  What you bring:

  You take samples, measure fat, protein, acidity and temperature and know what the values mean for product and process.

  How to get there:

  Dairies often fill lab jobs internally with dairy technologists and give them a few weeks to months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in analytics and microbiology. A qualification of your own comes from vocational training (Ausbildung) as a dairy laboratory technician (Milchwirtschaftlicher Laborant/Milchwirtschaftliche Laborantin), which takes 3 years and is often shortened with your qualification. Later, further training as a dairy lab master (Milchwirtschaftlicher Labormeister) is possible.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLittle customer contact

  €3,624gross per monthMedian salary

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• Production employee in pharmaceutical production

  Also: Machine operator in medicine manufacturing

  With on-the-job training

  In pharmaceutical production you make medicines on systems, monitor processes, clean and retool machines as specified and work according to Good Manufacturing Practice.

  What you bring:

  You work on closed systems under strict hygiene rules, know cleaning and sterilization programs and document every batch.

  How to get there:

  You start as a production employee with on-the-job training and training on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), usually for a few weeks; shift work is usual. A qualification in the industry comes from retraining (Umschulung) as a pharmaceutical technician (Pharmakant/Pharmakantin), which usually takes a good 2 years. The Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter can fund it if the requirements are met.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €4,942gross per monthMedian salary

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• Employee at a wastewater treatment plant

  Also: Plant operator at an industrial wastewater treatment plant

  With on-the-job training

  At municipal or company wastewater treatment plants you monitor the cleaning stages, dose precipitants, take samples and keep pumps and blowers running.

  What you bring:

  You know pumps, valves, dosing systems and cleaning chemicals and are used to monitoring measured values and taking samples.

  How to get there:

  Municipalities, special-purpose associations and food businesses with their own wastewater treatment give skilled workers from production on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) and send them to courses of the professional associations, usually lasting a few weeks. A qualification of your own comes from vocational training (Ausbildung) as an environmental technologist for wastewater management (Umwelttechnologe/Umwelttechnologin für Abwasserbewirtschaftung), which takes 3 years and is often shortened with prior education. On-call duty is usual.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €4,070gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field technical advisor, dairy technology

  Also: Field sales representative, cleaning and hygiene technology (food industry)

  With on-the-job training

  At manufacturers of systems, cleaning agents or ingredients you advise dairies and cheese makers, accompany trials and commissioning at the customer's and help find faults in the process.

  What you bring:

  You know heating, souring, ripening and system cleaning from production and know why products and processes fail in practice.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training from the manufacturer (Einarbeitung) with product training, usually for a few weeks to months. The master dairyman or a technician qualification is often expected, plus a driving license class B and willingness to travel. For application technology at manufacturers of cultures and enzymes a degree is often expected. English skills help if the provider works internationally.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Food quality inspector

  Also: Quality assurance specialist

  With on-the-job training

  In quality assurance, you take samples, test and taste them and document the results.

  What you bring:

  You know the products of your line, see deviations in color, consistency or weight immediately and know when a batch is wrong.

  How to get there:

  You move within the company with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), often after some years in production. Training on hygiene, HACCP and sampling usually takes a few days. For laboratory work, training as a food technology specialist (Fachkraft für Lebensmitteltechnik) or laboratory experience is often expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact

  €3,565gross per monthMedian salary

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• Master dairyman

  Also: Shift supervisor at a dairy

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a master dairyman (Molkereimeister) you plan production and staff, release batches, train new staff and are the first contact person for faults and deviations.

  What you bring:

  You know milk intake, heating, separating, cheese making and cleaning of the systems from shift work and know where quality and hygiene can tip.

  How to get there:

  You take further training as a master dairyman (Molkereimeister; Bachelor Professional in Dairy Technology). Preparation courses exist only at a few dairy training centers, and the further training can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). With a qualification as a dairy technologist (Milchtechnologe) or dairy laboratory technician (Milchwirtschaftlicher Laborant) you are admitted directly; with another qualification, after at least 3 years of work experience in the dairy industry; without a qualification, after at least 5 years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact
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• State-certified food technician

  Also: Employee in quality management in the dairy industry

  With further trainingPromotion

  In quality management or product development at a dairy you support audits and HACCP concepts, evaluate lab results and accompany new recipes and packaging into production.

  What you bring:

  You know raw milk quality, heating processes, ripening and hygiene requirements and recognize errors in product and process early.

  How to get there:

  The vocational college for food technology (Fachschule für Lebensmitteltechnik) takes 2 years full-time or about 4 years alongside work and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Access is usually with a qualification as a dairy technologist and at least one year of work experience; the federal state sets the exact rules.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,327gross per monthMedian salary

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• Food inspector

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a food inspector (Lebensmittelkontrolleur) you check businesses on behalf of the city or district, from farm shops to factories, take samples and make sure defects are put right.

  What you bring:

  You know hygiene rules, own checks, cold chains and sampling from the dairy and know where errors arise in food businesses.

  How to get there:

  First you need a further training exam, for example as a master dairyman, or a qualification as a state-certified technician in a food occupation. After that comes a course of at least 24 months with classes and practice in food monitoring, ending with an exam. Districts and cities advertise jobs irregularly, and the work usually takes place during the day.*Regulated by law (Food Inspector Ordinance (LKonV) §§ 2, 3).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekends

  €3,908gross per monthMedian salary

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• Milk collection truck driver

  Also: Professional driver in food transport

  With further training

  As a driver of a milk collection truck you pick up milk at farms, check smell and temperature, take samples and deliver the milk to the dairy.

  What you bring:

  You know milk intake, sampling, temperature control and hygiene when handling raw milk.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE plus the accelerated basic qualification with 140 teaching units and an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Together this usually takes a few months. Funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter approves it. Dairies and transport companies additionally train the drivers in sampling and intake technology. The tours often start very early.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV), Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Industrial mechanic

  Also: Maintenance technician

  With retrainingPromotion

  In maintenance, you service and repair the machines yourself and keep production running.

  What you bring:

  You know your plants exactly, fix small faults and know which parts wear often.

  How to get there:

  Retraining (Umschulung) as an industrial mechanic (Industriemechaniker) usually takes a good 2 years and is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Food companies look for maintenance technicians who already know the hygiene rules in the production area.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €4,205gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse logistics specialist

  Also: Warehouse specialist

  With retraining

  In the warehouse, you take care of goods receipt, storage, picking and shipping, often in a chilled or frozen warehouse.

  What you bring:

  You know raw materials, batches, best-before dates and the rules for chilled goods from production.

  How to get there:

  Retraining (Umschulung) as a warehouse specialist (Fachlagerist/in) usually takes about 16 months, and as a warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) usually 2 years. Both are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). The forklift license is usually included.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,235gross per monthMedian salary

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• Baker

  With retrainingPromotion

  As a baker, you make bread, rolls and fine pastries yourself, control dough handling and the baking process and take on responsible tasks in the trade and industry.

  What you bring:

  If you work in a large bakery, you know doughs, proofing times, ovens and hygiene rules from working at the plants.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as a baker (Bäcker/in) takes 3 years, or you can do retraining (Umschulung). Funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter approves it. With 4.5 years of relevant practice, you can also be admitted to the journeyman exam (Gesellenprüfung) without training (§ 37 para. 2 HwO), and the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer) decides whether your work is recognized. The working day usually starts very early in the morning.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demanding

  €3,200gross 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.