Career change as a musician
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 2 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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Music school teacher
Also: Instrument or voice teacher
With on-the-job training
At music schools or privately, you teach children and adults one-on-one or in groups and lead ensembles.
- What you bring:
- You master your instrument or your voice at a high level and can teach technique and expression.
- How to get there:
- Public music schools usually expect a music degree, and there are also part-time positions or freelance contracts. Further training in instrumental pedagogy helps. Privately, you can start teaching on a self-employed basis right away.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people -
Cultural manager
Also: Orchestra manager
With on-the-job training
As a cultural manager, you plan concerts, festivals and seasons, take care of funding applications and contracts and lead teams.
- What you bring:
- You know the music business from rehearsal to performance and know what artists and audiences need.
- How to get there:
- Orchestras, festivals and cultural offices hire musicians with organizational experience, and a course in cultural management alongside work makes the change easier. Evening and weekend work remains common at events.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light -
Music producer
Also: Production manager for music and media
With on-the-job training
As a music producer, you accompany recordings in the studio, arrange and mix music or produce music for film, advertising and games.
- What you bring:
- You have a sharp ear for sound, arrangement and interpretation.
- How to get there:
- The way in usually runs through your own productions and contacts. Various providers offer courses on recording technology and music software, and the length depends on the provider. You can work freelance, and permanent positions exist at studios, publishers and broadcasters.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically light -
Concert agent
Also: Artist manager
With on-the-job training
As a concert agent or artist manager, you book performances, negotiate contracts and plan tours for artists and ensembles.
- What you bring:
- You know promoters, venues and the everyday life of musicians from your own experience.
- How to get there:
- Agencies train musicians with a good network, and a course in the music business or cultural management helps. Pay often depends on commissions.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically lightLots of contact with people€4,456gross per monthMedian salary
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Music editor
Also: Music journalist
With on-the-job training
As a music editor, you plan broadcasts and programs on the radio; as a music journalist, you write reviews and articles.
- What you bring:
- You know repertoire, performers and music history and can talk and write about music with real knowledge.
- How to get there:
- Broadcasters and specialist media sometimes hire musicians with writing or presenting experience directly. Otherwise, the route leads through freelance articles or a traineeship (Volontariat) of usually one to two years.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€4,728gross per monthMedian salary
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Head of a music school
Also: Head of department at a music school
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As head of a music school, you plan the course offering, lead the staff and negotiate with the school's governing body, schools and the municipality.
- What you bring:
- You know music teaching, ensembles and concert operations and can provide professional leadership for colleagues.
- How to get there:
- Music schools advertise management positions publicly and usually expect a music degree, teaching experience and organizational talent. You learn administration, budgeting and staff management on the job, and courses from the music school associations help.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light€5,151gross per monthMedian salary
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Music teacher
Also: Music teacher at a secondary school
With a degree
In the classroom, you teach music at academic secondary schools (Gymnasien) or comprehensive schools (Gesamtschulen), lead a choir, band or orchestra and help shape school life.
- What you bring:
- You bring musical skill, stage experience and often experience with groups.
- How to get there:
- Each federal state sets its own rules for the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg), including whether a second subject is required, and whether there are positions for career changers in music depends on demand. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, a degree from a music academy counts, but the school must be able to deploy you in two subjects, and the preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) alongside work takes 24 months.*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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Music therapist
Also: Music therapist in a clinic
With further training
As a music therapist, you work in clinics, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes or practices with people with mental, neurological or other illnesses.
- What you bring:
- You can express feelings with music and reach people even when words are missing.
- How to get there:
- After a music degree, you can do a master's degree alongside work or a recognized further training of several years in music therapy. The title is not protected by law, but clinics look for recognized qualifications. Expect internships and self-awareness work during the training.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically lightLots of contact with people
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 musician without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Music school teacher, Cultural manager, Music producer, Concert agent, Music editor and Head of a music school.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a musician?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Music teacher and Music therapist.
What promotion options do I have as a musician?
Promotions include, for example: Head of a music school.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Music teacher (€5,466 gross per month), Head of a music school (€5,151 gross per month) and Music editor (€4,728 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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