Career change as a packer

Career change paths

• Delivery driver

  Also: Courier driver

  Start right away

  As a delivery driver with a van, you load your vehicle, drive routes and hand over the goods to the customer.

  What you bring:

  You are used to scanning shipments, securing cargo and physical work.

  How to get there:

  This is possible with a driving license class B after a short introduction. For vehicles up to 3.5 metric tons, no professional driver qualification is needed.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Forklift driver

  Also: Intralogistics worker

  With on-the-job training

  As a forklift driver, you load and unload trucks, supply packing stations and production with material and store goods in and out.

  What you bring:

  You know pallets, load carriers and shipping processes from daily work.

  How to get there:

  You need a forklift license under DGUV Principle 308-001 (DGUV Grundsatz 308-001). The course usually takes 1 to 3 days, followed by an introduction at the company and a written driving authorization. The course is partly funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein), and companies can also train their staff themselves.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,198gross per monthMedian salary

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• Machine and plant operator in packaging

  Also: Machine operator at packaging and filling plants

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  At packaging and filling plants, you set up formats, reload material, monitor the machine and fix minor faults.

  What you bring:

  You know packaging materials, labels and the requirements for clean packaging from manual work.

  How to get there:

  You can start as a machine operator with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the company, usually lasting a few weeks. Shift work is usual. You can also reach the qualification as a machine and plant operator (Maschinen- und Anlagenführer/in; training 2 years) through retraining (Umschulung) or as an external exam (Externenprüfung) under § 45 para. 2 BBiG.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,941gross per monthMedian salary

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• Goods inspector

  Also: Incoming goods quality inspector

  With on-the-job training

  In quality inspection, you check goods and components against inspection plans, measure and compare with specifications and document deviations.

  What you bring:

  When packing, you check goods for damage, completeness and correct labeling and work precisely.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the quality assurance of an industrial or trading company, usually lasting a few weeks, often with training on measuring tools and test methods. Accuracy and good German skills for the documentation are expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact

  €4,159gross per monthMedian salary

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• Pharma production worker

  Also: Pharmaceutical production operator

  With on-the-job training

  In pharmaceutical or chemical production, you make products at plants, pack them under cleanroom conditions and document every step.

  What you bring:

  You work exactly to specifications, check batches, quantities and labels and keep to hygiene rules.

  How to get there:

  You can start as a production worker with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) and training in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Shift work is usual. A qualification comes from retraining (Umschulung) as a pharmaceutical production operator (Pharmakant/in), usually a good 2 years, or as a chemical production specialist (Produktionsfachkraft Chemie), usually about 16 months. Both are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €4,942gross per monthMedian salary

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• Nursing assistant

  Also: Nursing assistant in elderly care

  With on-the-job training

  In nursing, you support qualified nurses with personal hygiene, eating and moving around, and you are there for people who need help.

  What you bring:

  You work reliably in a team, keep to fixed routines and hygiene rules and are used to physical work.

  How to get there:

  You can start as a nursing assistant after a basic nursing course (Pflegebasiskurs) of a few weeks. For a qualification, you can do vocational training (Ausbildung) as a nursing assistant (Pflegefachassistentin/Pflegefachassistent). From 2027 this training is uniform nationwide and usually takes 18 months full-time, with training pay.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,296gross per monthMedian salary

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• Crane operator

  Also: Overhead crane operator

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a crane operator, you move material and cargo with overhead, loading or construction cranes.

  What you bring:

  You know rigging, stacking and securing heavy loads and have an eye for hazards in warehouse operations.

  How to get there:

  You get your crane license through a course under DGUV Principle 309-003 (DGUV Grundsatz 309-003). For overhead cranes it usually takes a few days, and for tower cranes on construction sites longer. Written authorization by the company is added.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,153gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse specialist

  Also: Warehouse logistics specialist

  With retrainingPromotion

  As a warehouse specialist, you receive goods, store them, pick and ship them and work with a forklift and warehouse management system.

  What you bring:

  You know packaging, labels, delivery documents and the path of goods up to dispatch from daily work.

  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), and the forklift license is usually included. With 3 years of work in the warehouse area, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) can also admit you to the external exam (Externenprüfung) as a warehouse specialist, and it decides case by case whether your work counts.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,235gross per monthMedian salary

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• Professional driver

  Also: Truck driver in local transport

  With further training

  As a truck driver, you bring the goods to the customer yourself, load and secure the cargo and work largely independently on the road.

  What you bring:

  You know delivery documents, pallets, loading and the time pressure in shipping from practice.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE plus the accelerated basic qualification (Grundqualifikation) with 140 teaching units and an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Together they usually take a few months and are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). The alternative is vocational training (Ausbildung) as a professional driver (Berufskraftfahrer/in), 3 years.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV), Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV) § 2).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Security guard

  Also: Property protection worker

  With further training

  In the security service, you guard company premises, warehouses and buildings, check access points and vehicles and do inspection rounds.

  What you bring:

  You work reliably, often in shifts, and follow specifications and procedures exactly.

  How to get there:

  Briefing under § 34a GewO (Unterrichtung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) takes at least 40 teaching hours. You also need German skills at least at level B1 and a reliability check by the authority. For inspection rounds in publicly accessible areas or admission to discos, you need the expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) at the IHK instead.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Code (GewO) § 34a, Security Services Ordinance (BewachV) § 6).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demanding

  €3,200gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse manager

  Also: Shift supervisor in logistics

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a shift or warehouse manager, you plan staff and processes and are responsible for performance, occupational safety and stock.

  What you bring:

  You know from your own experience how picking, goods receipt and shipping are connected and where time is lost.

  How to get there:

  This usually happens in stages, via lead hand work (Vorarbeit) or shift leadership. The upgrading course to become a certified logistics master craftsperson (Geprüfte/r Logistikmeister/in, IHK) is possible part-time alongside work and is eligible for Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Without a vocational qualification, you are admitted to the first part of the exam after 4 years of work experience, and to the second part after another year.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €4,707gross per monthMedian salary

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• Dispatcher

  Also: Route planner

  With retrainingPromotion

  In dispatching, you plan routes, vehicles and delivery dates and coordinate with drivers and customers.

  What you bring:

  You know loading times, packaging, shipping documents and the typical bottlenecks at the ramp.

  How to get there:

  This usually goes through a commercial qualification, for example retraining (Umschulung) as a clerk for freight forwarding and logistics services (Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Spedition und Logistikdienstleistung), which usually takes about 2 years and is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Experienced warehouse staff also sometimes move internally, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightIn an office

  €3,917gross 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.