Career change as a press officer
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 8 with on-the-job training and 0 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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Head of corporate communications
Also: Communications manager
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As head of communications, you are responsible for how a company, public authority or association presents itself to the public, lead a team and advise senior management.
- What you bring:
- You know press work, crisis communication, campaigns and internal communication from hands-on experience.
- How to get there:
- This move usually works out after a few years as a communications officer or press spokesperson in the same industry. Courses on leadership and communications management take a few weeks. Expect to be reachable outside working hours, for example during crises.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office€7,384gross per monthMedian salary
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Content marketing manager
Also: Online marketing specialist
With on-the-job training
In content marketing, you plan content for the website, newsletter and social media, steer campaigns and evaluate reach and inquiries.
- What you bring:
- You can pick the right topics, write well and know social media and target audiences.
- How to get there:
- Companies train PR professionals in marketing tools, search engine optimization and web analytics, and courses on these take a few weeks. The focus is more on sales goals than in press work.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,385gross per monthMedian salary
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Editor at a trade publisher
Also: Editor for corporate media
With on-the-job training
As an editor at a trade publisher, a content agency or in employee communication, you create articles, interviews and magazines.
- What you bring:
- You can research, develop topics and write for different audiences.
- How to get there:
- Trade publishers and agencies hire PR professionals who have good work samples and train them in editorial procedures; some require a traineeship (Volontariat). In independent journalism, editorial offices pay attention to whether you keep your distance from former clients.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€4,728gross per monthMedian salary
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Speechwriter
Also: Writer of specialist texts
With on-the-job training
As a speechwriter, you write speeches, welcome addresses and guest articles for executive board members, ministers or association heads.
- What you bring:
- You can boil messages down to the point and know how executives and politicians speak.
- How to get there:
- Ministries, large corporations and associations hire experienced communications professionals as speechwriters, often on a freelance basis too. Seminars on speechwriting take a few days. Good work samples and the trust of clients are decisive.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible€5,083gross per monthMedian salary
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Policy officer
Also: Research assistant to a member of parliament
With on-the-job training
As a policy officer for an association, a parliamentary group or members of parliament, you prepare positions, write statements and stay in contact with ministries and experts.
- What you bring:
- You know political procedures, the media and lobbying and can state positions clearly.
- How to get there:
- Parliamentary groups, members' offices and associations hire communications professionals with a feel for politics and train them in legislation and specialist topics. Jobs with members of parliament are tied to the legislative term.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office -
Media trainer
Also: Communication trainer
With on-the-job training
As a media or communication trainer, you prepare managers, spokespeople and specialists for interviews, speeches and crisis situations.
- What you bring:
- You know interviews, press conferences and appearances in front of camera and microphone from firsthand experience.
- How to get there:
- Training providers and agencies value practical experience; a trainer course of a few weeks to months helps you get in. You can work as a freelancer or for a communications agency.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
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Association managing director
Also: Head of advocacy
With on-the-job training
As managing director of an association, you run the head office, represent the members' interests and organize the work of the committees.
- What you bring:
- You represent positions in public, know politics, media and networks and can unite members behind a message.
- How to get there:
- Associations often fill managing director positions with experienced communications and public affairs specialists and train them in association law and specialist topics. The route usually leads through a policy officer role within the association.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€6,815gross per monthMedian salary
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Event manager
Also: Conference and events planner
With on-the-job training
As an event manager, you plan conferences, company events or political events and coordinate service providers, guests and the schedule.
- What you bring:
- You have organized press conferences, receptions and campaign events and know how to reach guests and media.
- How to get there:
- Agencies, associations and companies train communications specialists in event planning, contracts and safety requirements. Expect evening and weekend work around the events.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsLots of contact with people€4,165gross 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 press officer without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Head of corporate communications, Content marketing manager, Editor at a trade publisher, Speechwriter, Policy officer, Media trainer, Association managing director and Event manager.
What promotion options do I have as a press officer?
Promotions include, for example: Head of corporate communications.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Head of corporate communications (€7,384 gross per month), Association managing director (€6,815 gross per month) and Content marketing manager (€5,385 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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