Career change as a professor

Career change paths

• Scientific officer at a project management agency (Projektträger)

  Also: Policy advisor in a ministry

  With on-the-job training

  At project management agencies, ministries or funding organizations, you look after funding programs, review applications, support projects and advise politicians.

  What you bring:

  You know research funding, grant applications and peer review from your own experience and can assess research projects professionally.

  How to get there:

  Project management agencies and funding organizations hire scientists with a doctorate and train them on the job in grant law and administrative procedures. Ministries are part of the public service, and project management agencies work on behalf of the federal and state governments.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Management consultant

  Also: Strategy consultant

  With on-the-job training

  At a management consultancy, you work on projects for companies or public clients on strategy, organization or technology questions.

  What you bring:

  You can get up to speed on new topics quickly, analyze data and present results convincingly.

  How to get there:

  Consultancies also hire people with a doctorate and train them in their methods. Selection procedures with case studies are usual, and you can practice for them specifically. Expect a high workload and a lot of travel.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible

  €6,768gross per monthMedian salary

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• Data scientist

  Also: Data analyst

  With on-the-job training

  You work with statistics, large datasets and often with programming languages such as Python or R. As a data scientist or data analyst, you analyze data for companies, insurers or authorities, build forecasting models and explain results to the specialist departments.

  How to get there:

  Companies often hire people with a doctorate in quantitative subjects directly. If you lack basics in databases or machine learning, courses lasting a few weeks to a few months help. A project of your own with real data often convinces more in an interview than a certificate.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €6,500gross per monthMedian salary

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• Science communication officer

  Also: Press officer at a research institution

  With on-the-job training

  At universities, research institutes or foundations, you write press releases, look after social media, organize events and advise researchers on dealing with the media.

  What you bring:

  You know research from the inside and can present results to laypeople clearly.

  How to get there:

  Research institutions hire scientists with writing talent and train them on the job in press work and media. Courses in science communication take a few days to a few weeks. Work samples such as blog posts or texts for the general public help with your application.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €5,318gross per monthMedian salary

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• Application specialist

  Also: Product specialist for laboratory technology

  With on-the-job training

  As an application specialist at a manufacturer, you demonstrate devices, train customers, develop applications and give technical support to sales.

  What you bring:

  You know measuring devices, laboratory methods and software from your research and can talk to professionals as an equal.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers of laboratory, analytical and medical technology hire natural scientists with a doctorate and train them in their products. Expect travel to customers and trade fairs.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Regulatory affairs manager

  Also: Medicines approval officer

  With on-the-job training

  In regulatory affairs at pharma, medical technology or chemical companies, you prepare approval documents, track legal requirements and stay in contact with authorities.

  What you bring:

  You can read scientific data precisely, assess it and turn it into structured documents.

  How to get there:

  Companies hire natural scientists with a doctorate and train them on the job in approval law and procedures. Part-time courses in regulatory affairs take a few weeks to a few months. Good English is required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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

  €7,039gross per monthMedian salary

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• Study program coordinator

  Also: Head of an adult education institution

  With on-the-job training

  As coordinator or head, you organize degree programs, continuing education programs or an educational institution, look after lecturers and students, and ensure accreditation and quality.

  What you bring:

  You know degree programs, examination regulations, course planning and the processes at universities precisely.

  How to get there:

  Universities, academies and adult education centers hire people with a doctorate and teaching experience for science and education management. Part-time courses on this take a few weeks to a few months. As administrative and management staff, you do not fall under the special fixed-term rules for academic staff, but fixed-term positions exist here too.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

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• Secondary school teacher (Gymnasium)

  Also: Teacher of mathematics or natural sciences

  With a degree

  At a secondary school, you teach your subjects, guide classes over several years and prepare them for final exams.

  What you bring:

  You can explain difficult material, plan courses and conduct exams.

  How to get there:

  The states regulate the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg) differently. It is possible if teaching subjects can be derived from your degree and schools advertise positions for career changers. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, the preparatory service (Vorbereitungsdienst) alongside work takes 24 months and requires two subjects and two years of work experience after your degree.*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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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.