Career change as a cleaning site manager
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 5 with on-the-job training and 3 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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Application adviser for cleaning and hygiene
Also: Field sales representative for cleaning technology
With on-the-job training
At the manufacturer or wholesaler you advise facilities and building service providers, present cleaning and hygiene concepts, and train the staff on site.
- What you bring:
- You know cleaning agents, dosing systems, machines and hygiene requirements from work in hotels, clinics or homes.
- How to get there:
- You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the manufacturer or wholesaler, usually a few weeks of product training. A class B driving license and willingness to travel are expected. Look for a permanent position: as a self-employed commercial agent you usually work on commission only and bear the risk yourself.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€4,456gross per monthMedian salary
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Head of laundry services
Also: Operations manager of a laundry
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
In the management of a large laundry or textile service you plan staff and production, steer routes and quality, and look after major customers.
- What you bring:
- You know laundry cycles, textile care, hygiene requirements, and what hotels, clinics and homes expect from clean laundry.
- How to get there:
- The management of laundry services in clinics, homes or hotel groups is often taken over by experienced housekeeping managers, who get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in machines, washing processes and hygiene certification. For the operations management of a commercial large laundry, the way in usually leads through shift or production management, and depending on the business, a master qualification in the textile cleaning trade or in home economics, or a technician qualification, is then expected.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift work€4,062gross per monthMedian salary
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Hygiene adviser for institutional catering
Also: Auditor for food hygiene
With on-the-job training
As a hygiene adviser or auditor you check kitchens, canteens and facilities, create hygiene concepts based on the HACCP principle, train staff, and prepare businesses for official inspections.
- What you bring:
- You implement hygiene plans and self-checks, know cleaning, disinfection and food hygiene, and instruct employees.
- How to get there:
- Courses in hygiene management and auditing at chambers, associations and testing organizations usually take a few days to a few weeks. After that you get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at a consulting company, caterer or association. A master or technical college qualification in home economics or the food sector and experience in commercial kitchens are usually expected. Business travel is common.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact€4,905gross per monthMedian salary
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Kitchen manager in institutional catering
With on-the-job training
As kitchen manager in homes, clinics, canteens or schools you plan menus and staff, order goods, and ensure compliance with hygiene regulations.
- What you bring:
- If you are also responsible for catering in a care or educational facility, you know menu planning, diets, hygiene rules and cost of goods.
- How to get there:
- Homes and communal kitchens often fill kitchen management positions with cooks, but also with master craftspeople in home economics or experienced housekeeping managers. On-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in kitchen technology and production processes usually takes a few weeks to a few months. Experience in commercial kitchens clearly improves your chances.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demandingLittle customer contact€3,913gross per monthMedian salary
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Buyer for hotel and clinic supplies
Also: Purchasing clerk
With on-the-job training
In the purchasing department of a hotel group, a clinic network or a building service provider you negotiate with suppliers, put framework agreements out to tender, and monitor deliveries.
- What you bring:
- You order cleaning agents, laundry and consumables, compare quotes, and know which quality holds up in everyday use.
- How to get there:
- You switch to purchasing with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), usually lasting a few weeks to a few months. A commercial qualification is often expected. Later, you can take part-time further training in purchasing at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€4,200gross per monthMedian salary
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Rooms division manager
Also: Hotel manager
With further trainingPromotion
As rooms division manager you are responsible for the front desk and housekeeping together, and in smaller hotels also for the whole hotel operation.
- What you bring:
- If you lead housekeeping in a hotel, you know room standards, staff planning, budgets and how closely you have to coordinate with the reception.
- How to get there:
- This is usually an internal promotion in larger hotels, often after some time at the front desk to get to know that area. As a qualification, the further training course for certified senior specialist in hospitality (Fachwirt im Gastgewerbe) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or the technical college for the hotel and restaurant trade (state-certified business administrator, two years full-time) fit. Both can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You usually need a vocational qualification and work experience in hospitality.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with people -
Head of building services
Also: Head of economic and supply services, Head of facility management
With further trainingPromotion
As head of building or supply services you are responsible for several areas such as cleaning, laundry, catering and building technology, manage budgets, and put services out to tender.
- What you bring:
- You plan staff and cleaning processes, check quality, order material and work with service providers.
- How to get there:
- You usually get there after several years in property or housekeeping management and with part-time further training. Good options are, for example, the technical college for nutrition and supply management (state-certified business administrator, two years full-time, partly also alongside a job) or courses in facility management at chambers and private providers. Recognized further trainings can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Admission to the technical college is regulated by the state, usually requiring a vocational qualification and work experience.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically lightLittle customer contact -
Trainer for home economics at a training provider
Also: Practical skills teacher for home economics
With further trainingPromotion
As a trainer at a vocational training center (Berufsbildungswerk) or training provider you prepare apprentices and retraining students for the exam in home economics, and at vocational schools you teach the practical skills.
- What you bring:
- You guide employees, explain work steps and hygiene rules, and check the results.
- How to get there:
- To train others you need the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung), which you prove in an exam at the responsible body. Preparation courses are optional, and the master craftsperson exam in home economics includes a corresponding part. Training providers usually expect the master qualification in home economics or a technical college qualification. For practical skills teachers at vocational schools, the states have their own rules, often with additional teacher training.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO); state law for teachers at vocational schools).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact€5,075gross 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 cleaning site manager without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Application adviser for cleaning and hygiene, Head of laundry services, Hygiene adviser for institutional catering, Kitchen manager in institutional catering and Buyer for hotel and clinic supplies.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a cleaning site manager?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Rooms division manager, Head of building services and Trainer for home economics at a training provider.
What promotion options do I have as a cleaning site manager?
Promotions include, for example: Rooms division manager, Head of building services, Trainer for home economics at a training provider and Head of laundry services.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Trainer for home economics at a training provider (€5,075 gross per month), Hygiene adviser for institutional catering (€4,905 gross per month) and Application adviser for cleaning and hygiene (€4,456 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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