Career change as an educator

Career change paths

• Evaluator

  Also: Social researcher

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  As an evaluator or social researcher, you study for institutes, foundations or authorities how programs work and write reports and recommendations.

  What you bring:

  You know empirical methods, surveys and statistics from education research.

  How to get there:

  Research and consulting institutes hire education researchers with methods knowledge directly. The positions are often tied to projects, so ask about duration and follow-up prospects.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible
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• Learning and development specialist

  Also: Head of in-company training and further education

  With on-the-job training

  In the HR development department of a company or authority, you plan further training, leadership programs and learning offerings and select trainers.

  What you bring:

  You know learning processes, didactics and the planning of educational offerings and can survey needs systematically.

  How to get there:

  Companies hire educators and education scientists for HR development and train them on the job in company processes. Knowledge of labor law and e-learning helps. To head training, trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung) is often expected, which you prove with an exam at the responsible chamber; depending on your degree, the chamber can exempt you from it fully or partly.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €5,147gross per monthMedian salary

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• Instructional designer

  Also: E-learning author

  With on-the-job training

  As an instructional designer, you develop digital learning offerings such as online courses, learning videos and tests for companies, universities or education providers.

  What you bring:

  You know how learning goals are formulated, content is built and learning results are checked.

  How to get there:

  E-learning agencies, companies and education providers train educators on authoring tools and learning platforms. Courses on these take a few weeks. A small portfolio with your own learning modules improves your chances.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of an adult education center (Volkshochschule)

  Also: Head of an adult education institution

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As head of an adult education center or education center, you are responsible for the program, staff, budget and partnerships.

  What you bring:

  You know education planning, quality assurance and cooperation with authorities and providers.

  How to get there:

  Municipalities and providers look for educators with experience in education management and leadership for the management role. You learn budgeting, funding law and people management on the job. The route usually leads through a position as an educational staff member or department head.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,151gross per monthMedian salary

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• Career advisor

  Also: Advisor for vocational integration

  With on-the-job training

  As a career advisor, you support pupils, students or adults in choosing a career and in starting over professionally, for example at the Federal Employment Agency or at training providers.

  What you bring:

  You know educational paths, qualifications and learning prerequisites and can advise people when they have to make decisions.

  How to get there:

  The Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit) hires university graduates for career guidance and qualifies them in-house. Career advisors also work at chambers and training providers.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,521gross per monthMedian salary

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• Education policy advisor

  Also: Policy advisor in a state ministry of education

  With on-the-job training

  As a policy advisor in a ministry, foundation or association, you prepare projects, write statements and support programs.

  What you bring:

  You know education research, curricula and school development and can prepare studies and data for decisions.

  How to get there:

  Ministries, foundations and associations hire education experts with a university degree and train them on the job in administrative and committee procedures. In ministries, some positions require a teaching qualification or administrative experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Editor at an education publisher

  Also: Textbook author

  With on-the-job training

  At a school or education publisher, you plan and edit textbooks, workbooks and digital learning media, work with authors and make sure the content matches the curriculum.

  What you bring:

  You know curricula, competence models and the requirements for good teaching materials.

  How to get there:

  Education publishers hire experts with teaching or didactics experience, often through a traineeship (Volontariat) or an induction in editing. You can start as a freelance author and later move into the editorial team.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €4,237gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of a youth welfare facility

  Also: Head of a social service

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As head of a facility or service, you lead the team, negotiate service rates and are responsible for quality and budget.

  What you bring:

  You know support planning, teamwork and cooperation with the youth welfare office (Jugendamt) and funding bodies.

  How to get there:

  Providers usually fill management positions with experienced social workers, often after a period as team lead. Further training in social management is helpful, but not mandatory.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically light

  €5,771gross per monthMedian salary

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• Teacher at a vocational college for social education (Fachschule für Sozialpädagogik)

  Also: Instructor in early childhood educator (Erzieher) training

  With on-the-job training

  At vocational colleges for social education or disability support work (Heilerziehungspflege), you train future early childhood educators (Erzieher) and disability support workers (Heilerziehungspfleger).

  What you bring:

  You can teach social education methods, law and practice from your own experience.

  How to get there:

  Private vocational colleges often hire social workers with practical experience directly, and state schools hire according to the rules of the respective federal state. Part-time or freelance teaching is a common way in.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,140gross per monthMedian salary

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• Professional legal guardian (Berufsbetreuer)

  Also: Legal guardian at a guardianship association (Betreuungsverein)

  With on-the-job training

  As a legal guardian, you handle dealings with authorities, finances and health matters for the people in your care, either employed at a guardianship association (Betreuungsverein) or self-employed.

  What you bring:

  You know social law, authorities and people with mental illness or disabilities.

  How to get there:

  Professional guardians must register with the guardianship authority (Betreuungsbehörde). With a completed degree in social work or social pedagogy, the required expertise counts as proven. You also need personal suitability, reliability and professional liability insurance, and guardianship associations (Betreuungsvereine) also employ social workers.*Regulated by law (Guardianship Organization Act (BtOG) §§ 23, 24; Guardian Registration Ordinance (BtRegV) § 7 (6)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of a daycare center (Kita)

  Also: Head of a family center

  With on-the-job training

  As head of a daycare center (Kita), you lead the team, plan staffing and enrollment and work with parents and the provider.

  What you bring:

  You know child protection, work with parents and cooperation with the youth welfare office (Jugendamt).

  How to get there:

  Providers also hire social workers and social pedagogues (Sozialpädagogen) as daycare center heads, and each federal state sets its own requirements for the role. Whether management training is required depends on the state and the provider.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLots of contact with people

  €5,771gross per monthMedian salary

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• Childminder (Kindertagespflegeperson)

  Also: Childminder (Tagesmutter or Tagesvater)

  With on-the-job training

  In childminding (Kindertagespflege), you independently look after a small group of at most five children at a time in your own or rented rooms and set procedures and times yourself.

  What you bring:

  You can look after and support children and work well with parents.

  How to get there:

  You need a care permit from the youth welfare office. As an early childhood educator (Erzieher), you are usually considered professionally suitable, but a shortened qualification course may still be required. The youth welfare office sets the ongoing payment unless state law provides otherwise.*Regulated by law (Social Code, Book VIII (SGB VIII) § 43).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,340gross per monthMedian salary

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• Clerk in financial youth welfare services

  Also: Clerk for the allocation of daycare places

  With on-the-job training

  At the youth welfare office, you process applications for daycare places, fee waivers or support and advise parents, with regular office hours.

  What you bring:

  You know daycare laws, childcare services and families in difficult situations from practice.

  How to get there:

  Some municipalities also fill such positions with professionals from childcare and train them on the job in administrative law. A part-time administrative course may be required; its duration depends on the training institute.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €3,964gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field specialist advisor for daycare equipment

  Also: Customer advisor for educational play and learning materials

  With on-the-job training

  For manufacturers and dealers, you advise daycare centers, schools and providers on furnishings and materials and prepare quotes.

  What you bring:

  You know from daily group life which furniture, play and learning materials prove their worth in a daycare center.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers and specialist dealers give early childhood educators product training over a few weeks. A driving license class B and willingness to travel are expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Secondary school teacher

  Also: Teacher of education studies

  With a degree

  At a secondary school, you teach your subjects and, in some states, also education or educational science.

  What you bring:

  You know didactics, lesson planning and learning psychology and have often already taught yourself or advised teachers.

  How to get there:

  Depending on the state, the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg) is possible if one or two teaching subjects can be derived from your degree; a pure degree in educational science is often not enough for this. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, the training alongside work under the OBAS lasts 24 months and ends with the state examination (Staatsprüfung); requirements include a university degree with a standard period of study of at least seven semesters and two years of work or childcare.*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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• Mediator

  Also: Family mediator

  With further training

  As a mediator, you help families, neighbors or teams find a solution themselves.

  What you bring:

  You can mediate in conflicts, listen and work with people in separation or dispute.

  How to get there:

  The length of mediation training depends on the provider. You may only use the title certified mediator (zertifizierter Mediator) after a course of at least 130 hours of in-person instruction and five supervised mediations. You can combine mediation with counseling in a facility.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €7,208gross 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.