Career change as a pilot
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 7 with on-the-job training and 1 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
-
Flight safety officer
Also: Safety manager in flight operations
With on-the-job training
You know procedures, risks and sources of error in the cockpit from your own experience and know how important an open reporting culture is. As a flight safety officer, you evaluate incident reports, analyze risks, propose measures and train crews.
- How to get there:
- Airlines, airports and maintenance companies bring in experienced pilots once they have completed safety management courses, which usually take a few days to weeks. You often start alongside flight duty and later move fully into this role.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€4,948gross per monthMedian salary
-
Flight operations inspector at an aviation authority
Also: Case officer at an aviation authority
With on-the-job training
At a federal or state aviation authority, you inspect flight operators and flight schools, support checks or process permits and licenses.
- What you bring:
- You know licenses, operations manuals and aviation regulations from daily practice.
- How to get there:
- Aviation authorities look for experienced pilots to supervise flight operations and train them with internal training. Whether you can become a civil servant (Verbeamtung) depends on the position, age and prior education.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically light -
Crew resource management trainer
Also: Trainer for teamwork and error culture
With on-the-job training
As a trainer, you transfer these methods to crews, clinics, control centers or industrial teams and design seminars and simulation training.
- What you bring:
- You have learned to communicate clearly under pressure, use checklists and catch errors in the team early.
- How to get there:
- You can get in through trainer courses on crew resource management or a general trainer course of a few weeks, including as a freelancer alongside flight duty at first. Permanent positions exist at airlines, simulation centers and consulting firms for clinics.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
-
Flight operations controller
Also: Crew scheduler
With on-the-job training
In the operations control of an airline, you plan and monitor flights, react to delays and cancellations and coordinate with crews, technology and airports.
- What you bring:
- You know flight planning, weather, duty time rules and procedures at the airport from the cockpit's point of view.
- How to get there:
- Airlines usually train new staff in operations control internally over a few months, and work is in shifts (Schichtdienst). Your experience from the cockpit is an advantage there.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€4,231gross per monthMedian salary
-
Sales representative for business aviation flights
Also: Sales consultant for general aviation aircraft
With on-the-job training
In the sales team of a charter provider, manufacturer or dealer, you advise customers, put together flight offers and support purchase or charter decisions.
- What you bring:
- You know aircraft types, performance data and the wishes of charter and private customers from your own experience.
- How to get there:
- Charter companies and dealers train pilots with product and sales training over a few weeks to months. Good English and negotiation skills are expected.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€4,456gross per monthMedian salary
-
Head of flight operations
Also: Air operations manager
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As head of flight operations at a smaller airline or a charter operator, you are responsible for procedures, manuals and staff and are the point of contact for the authority.
- What you bring:
- You know flight operations, regulations and crew planning from many years of practice and have carried responsibility in the cockpit.
- How to get there:
- You usually take on this role after years as a captain or in a management function. EU aviation law sets requirements for this responsible position, and the aviation authority checks your suitability. Courses on leadership and safety management help you prepare.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact€6,265gross per monthMedian salary
-
Head of a flight school
Also: Head of training at a flight school
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As head of a flight school, you are responsible for training programs, flight instructors, aircraft and cooperation with the authority.
- What you bring:
- You bring flight experience, teaching experience and knowledge of the regulations.
- How to get there:
- You usually take over the management after a few years as a flight instructor at the school. EU aviation law sets requirements for the head of training, and the aviation authority checks your suitability. Business knowledge helps, and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and training providers offer courses in business management.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically light€5,151gross per monthMedian salary
-
Instructor at the flight simulator
Also: Theory instructor at a flight school
With further training
As an instructor at the simulator or in theory classes, you prepare flight students and crews for exams and type ratings.
- What you bring:
- You can explain procedures, systems and decisions in the cockpit from your own experience.
- How to get there:
- For training at the simulator, you need a suitable instructor rating under the European rules for flight crew, and the courses for it are offered by approved training organizations. Whether you still need a valid medical certificate depends on the rating, and the aviation authority can give you information.*Regulated by law (Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011, Annex I (Part-FCL), FCL.900).
* 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 pilot without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Flight safety officer, Flight operations inspector at an aviation authority, Crew resource management trainer, Flight operations controller, Sales representative for business aviation flights, Head of flight operations and Head of a flight school.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a pilot?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Instructor at the flight simulator.
What promotion options do I have as a pilot?
Promotions include, for example: Head of flight operations and Head of a flight school.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Head of flight operations (€6,265 gross per month), Crew resource management trainer (€5,254 gross per month) and Head of a flight school (€5,151 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.
Your job is not listed?
One sentence from you is enough.
Enter what you do today, in your own words if you like.
You see right away where you can switch to.