Career change as a parcel delivery driver

Career change paths

• Dispatcher

  Also: Route planner, Depot control specialist

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  In dispatching and route planning, you assign routes and vehicles, clear up disruptions and keep in touch with drivers and customers.

  What you bring:

  You know from your own experience how many stops fit on a route, where delivery gets stuck and what drivers need.

  How to get there:

  This is often an internal advancement at the depot after some time in delivery, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the planning software. Good German skills and confident use of the PC are expected. A recognized qualification comes later from retraining (Umschulung) as a clerk for freight forwarding and logistics services (Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Spedition und Logistikdienstleistung), usually 2 years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightIn an office

  €3,917gross per monthMedian salary

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• Forklift driver

  Also: Warehouse worker with a forklift license

  With on-the-job training

  As a forklift driver, you work permanently at one site, unload trucks and store and retrieve pallets.

  What you bring:

  You are used to sorting parcels, loading vehicles and working with delivery notes and a scanner.

  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. 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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• Receptionist

  Also: Hotel front desk agent

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  At the reception, you check guests in and out, manage reservations in the hotel system, settle bills and are the contact person for all requests.

  What you bring:

  If you work as a bellhop, doorman or porter in a hotel, you know guests, processes and the whole house.

  How to get there:

  You can move internally to the reception, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) usually lasting a few weeks. English skills are almost always expected, and shift and weekend work are usual. With the training as a hotel specialist (Hotelfachmann/Hotelfachfrau), 3 years and shortenable on request, more hotels and management positions are open to you later.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,034gross per monthMedian salary

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• Traffic warden

  Also: Employee in the municipal public order service

  With on-the-job training

  In traffic monitoring or the public order service of a city you check for parking violations and other administrative offenses, document them and talk to the people concerned.

  What you bring:

  You know the streets of your district, walk in all weather, and work independently and reliably.

  How to get there:

  Cities and municipalities also hire career changers for traffic monitoring as employees under collective pay agreements (Tarif) and train them in courses lasting a few weeks. For the public order service more is often required, for example experience in the security service or administrative training. What exactly applies is stated in the job ad.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLots of contact with peopleLots of time outdoors

  €3,200gross per monthMedian salary

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• Professional driver

  Also: Truck driver

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a truck driver, you drive larger vehicles on fixed routes or in long-distance transport and work largely independently on the road.

  What you bring:

  You know route planning, time pressure, load securing and driving a van in city traffic.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE plus the accelerated basic qualification (Grundqualifikation; 140 hours of instruction with 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)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Bus driver in scheduled service

  Also: Tram driver

  With further training

  In scheduled service, you drive fixed routes according to the timetable and are responsible for your passengers.

  What you bring:

  You drive safely through city traffic all day, keep to schedules and stay friendly in contact with customers.

  How to get there:

  You need driving license class D and the accelerated basic qualification (Grundqualifikation) for passenger transport, which together usually take a few months and are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Some transport companies train career changers themselves, including the driving license. For trams, the companies train people internally.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV), Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €3,585gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train driver

  Also: Locomotive driver

  With further training

  In the driver's cab of a locomotive or multiple unit, you drive according to timetable and signals and bear responsibility for passengers or goods.

  What you bring:

  You are used to driving alone and in a focused way, keeping to time targets and working early or late.

  How to get there:

  You qualify as a train driver (Triebfahrzeugführer) with a railway company or training provider, usually in about one year, and it is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). The law requires a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss), as a rule a minimum age of 20, and medical and psychological fitness. Some employers also expect a completed vocational training.*Regulated by law (Train Driver License Ordinance (TfV) § 5).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,322gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse specialist

  Also: Warehouse logistics specialist

  With retrainingPromotion

  In the warehouse, you take care of goods receipt, storage, picking and shipping, without the pressure of the route.

  What you bring:

  You scan shipments, load vehicles in the right order and know the processes at the depot.

  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.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,235gross per monthMedian salary

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• Security guard

  Also: Property protection worker

  With further training

  In property or plant security, you check access points, do rounds and respond correctly to disruptions.

  What you bring:

  You work reliably alone, keep to fixed routines and stay calm even with difficult customers.

  How to get there:

  Briefing under § 34a GewO (Unterrichtung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) takes 40 teaching hours, plus a reliability check by the authority. For inspection rounds in publicly accessible areas, protection against shoplifters 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)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demanding

  €3,200gross per monthMedian salary

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• Taxi driver

  Also: Driver in patient transport, Driver in school and disability transport

  With further training

  In transport services, you carry passengers by taxi or private-hire car, bring patients to treatments or drive children and people with disabilities to school and workshop.

  What you bring:

  You drive safely through city traffic every day, find addresses quickly and deal with people at the door in a friendly way.

  How to get there:

  For taxi, private-hire car (Mietwagen) and patient transport, you need the passenger transport permit (Fahrerlaubnis zur Fahrgastbeförderung). As a rule, this requires a minimum age of 21, class B for at least 2 years, proof of health and eyesight, a certificate of good conduct and, for taxi and private-hire car, proof of professional competence (Fachkunde). The preparation usually takes a few weeks. In school and disability transport, depending on the employer, the permit is also required, plus a first aid course. There are also part-time jobs.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV) § 48).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people

  €2,520gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of a delivery base

  Also: Shift leader in a letter or parcel center

  With further trainingPromotion

  In the management of a delivery base or a shift in the sorting center you plan staff and districts, ensure quality and occupational safety, and lead a team.

  What you bring:

  You know delivery, sorting, working hours and the problems of daily business from your own work.

  How to get there:

  You usually get there through the deputy role or team leadership after some years, with in-house management training. You can earn a recognized qualification with the further training course for certified logistics master (Logistikmeister) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). You can take it alongside a job, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Without a vocational qualification you are admitted only after several years of work experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workLittle customer contact

  €4,707gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train conductor

  Also: Customer service employee in local transport

  With training or an exam

  On the train you check tickets, inform passengers about delays, help travelers, and take on tasks at departure and in emergencies.

  What you bring:

  You are on the move a lot, deal with people in a friendly but firm way and work reliably according to fixed rules.

  How to get there:

  You qualify at the railway company, which usually takes a few weeks to a few months, with an exam and a medical fitness examination. Shift work (Schichtdienst) and weekend duty are part of the job.*Regulated by law (Railway Construction and Operating Regulations (EBO) §§ 47, 48).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,568gross 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.