Career change as an interior decorator (Raumausstatter)

Career change paths

• Furnishing consultant at a furniture store

  Also: Specialist consultant for upholstered furniture

  With on-the-job training

  At a furniture store or specialist shop, you advise customers on upholstered furniture and mattresses, plan furnishings, draw up quotes and handle complaints.

  What you bring:

  You know how a sofa is built inside, which covers are hard-wearing and how to recognize good workmanship.

  How to get there:

  Furniture stores give career changers with specialist knowledge a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the product range, planning software and cash register system. Saturday work is usual. Look for a permanent position, because pay in furniture sales often depends partly on sales volume.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Lots of contact with people

  €3,357gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field sales consultant for furniture fabrics and leather

  Also: Customer consultant at a fabric publisher

  With on-the-job training

  In field sales for a fabric publisher or supplier, you advise interior furnishers, upholstery shops and furniture manufacturers, present collections and handle complaints.

  What you bring:

  You know upholstery fabrics, leather, foams and processing techniques from the workshop and know which materials hold up well.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the manufacturer or dealer, with product training that usually lasts a few weeks to months. A driving license class B and willingness to travel are expected. Look for a permanent position, because as a self-employed sales agent (Handelsvertreter) you usually work on commission only.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Seat shell builder

  Also: Rehab technician at a medical supply store

  With on-the-job training

  At a medical supply store (Sanitätshaus) or in orthopedic technology, you build and upholster seat shells and wheelchair pads for people with disabilities, adjust them and help with fittings.

  What you bring:

  You shape foams, cover upholstery to fit and work cleanly with leather and imitation leather.

  How to get there:

  Medical supply stores and workshops for rehabilitation technology hire upholsterers and saddlers for seat shell construction and give them a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). A recognized qualification comes from vocational training (Ausbildung) as an orthopedic technology mechanic (Orthopädietechnik-Mechaniker), 3 years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €2,953gross per monthMedian salary

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• Decorator in a theater workshop

  Also: Prop maker

  With on-the-job training

  In the decoration department of theaters, opera houses or studios, you make curtains, stage furniture and upholstered props, cover sets and help with setup on stage.

  What you bring:

  You upholster, cover, sew and stretch fabrics and can restore furniture true to the original.

  How to get there:

  Theaters and studios hire interior furnishers and upholsterers for their decoration workshops and give them on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the team. Evening and weekend work during the season is possible. Jobs exist, for example, at large stages.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,987gross per monthMedian salary

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• Furniture assembler

  Also: Kitchen fitter

  With on-the-job training

  As an installer, you assemble furniture and kitchens at the customer's home, fit worktops and fronts, mount cabinets and appliances and hand everything over cleanly.

  What you bring:

  You work exactly to measure, handle tools, wooden frames and fittings confidently, and are used to dealing with customers.

  How to get there:

  Furniture stores, kitchen studios and installation companies usually give upholsterers a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). A driving license class B is almost always required. For electrical connections you need an additional qualification, for example as an electrically qualified person for defined tasks (Elektrofachkraft für festgelegte Tätigkeiten). Depending on the company, water connections are handled by internally trained installers or by plumbing companies. The work is physically demanding and involves a lot of driving.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,249gross per monthMedian salary

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• Caretaker

  Also: In-house handyman at a housing company

  With on-the-job training

  As a caretaker or in-house handyman you keep buildings in good shape and also take care of smaller repairs, technology and grounds.

  What you bring:

  You can repair tiles and floor coverings, renew grout and get apartments ready again after a tenant change.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training from the employer (Einarbeitung). The journeyman certificate is an advantage, and for heating and electrics, building services courses of a few weeks help. The work covers a wider range of tasks and usually puts less strain on the knees, and on-call duty can come on top.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,260gross per monthMedian salary

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• Industrial painter

  Also: Corrosion protection worker

  With on-the-job training

  In industry or in corrosion protection you coat components, steel structures or machines to exact specifications, often with spray systems and testing devices.

  What you bring:

  You know substrate preparation, paints, spray technique and coating thickness from the trade.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the industrial company or at a corrosion protection firm. Courses in corrosion protection usually take a few days to weeks. Shift work and work with breathing apparatus are usual in this field.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,736gross per monthMedian salary

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• Drywall installer

  Also: Plasterer

  With on-the-job training

  In drywall you build stud walls, suspended ceilings and cladding from plasterboard; as a plasterer you plaster and insulate interiors and facades.

  What you bring:

  You know filling techniques, substrates, plasters and working on walls and ceilings from the painting trade.

  How to get there:

  Finishing and plastering companies also give painters on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in drywall, usually for a few weeks to months. A qualification of your own comes from vocational training (Ausbildung) as a plasterer (Stuckateur/Stuckateurin) or drywall installer (Trockenbaumonteur/Trockenbaumonteurin), which can be shortened on request if you have a journeyman certificate as a painter.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,176gross per monthMedian salary

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• Interior furnishing master craftsperson (Raumausstattermeister)

  Also: Production manager in upholstered furniture manufacturing

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a master craftsperson (Meister), you run an upholstery workshop or a production area, plan orders and staff, calculate costs and train apprentices.

  What you bring:

  You know frame building, suspension, upholstery build-up, cutting and covering, and you know where quality and time get lost in production.

  How to get there:

  Master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the interior furnishing trade (Raumausstatter-Handwerk): it usually takes about one year full-time or 2 to 3 years part-time and is eligible for Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Since 2020, the master qualification or an equivalent entitlement is compulsory again to run your own interior furnishing business. With a journeyman certificate (Gesellenbrief) as an interior furnisher (Raumausstatter), you are admitted directly. With another qualification such as upholsterer (Polsterer), the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer) checks whether you must also prove some years of work in the trade.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLittle customer contact
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• Certified design consultant in the interior furnishing trade

  Also: Interior designer

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a design consultant, you advise customers on upholstered furniture, curtains, and wall and floor coverings, draw up room concepts and calculate quotes.

  What you bring:

  You know fabrics, leather, upholstery shapes and the effect of color, and you know what can be made by hand.

  How to get there:

  The upgrading course to become a certified design consultant in the interior furnishing trade (Geprüfte/r Gestaltungsberater/in im Raumausstatter-Handwerk) is offered by the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer), usually part-time alongside work, and is eligible for Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). As an interior furnisher, you are admitted directly. With another room-designing occupation you are admitted after one year of practice, and otherwise after 4 years of work experience related to design consulting.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people
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• Interior furnishing expert

  Also: Upholstered furniture appraiser

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an expert, you assess complaints between customers, dealers and manufacturers and write expert reports for arbitration boards, insurers or courts.

  What you bring:

  You recognize workmanship errors, wrong materials and signs of use on upholstered furniture and know how they arise.

  How to get there:

  This usually comes after the master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) and several years of work experience. Chambers of Crafts (Handwerkskammern) and training providers offer courses for experts part-time alongside work. You are publicly appointed and sworn in only after the chamber has examined your special expertise, and you can start out working as an expert on the side.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light
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• Master tile layer

  Also: Foreman for tile and floor work

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a master craftsperson (Meister) or foreman (Polier) you take measurements, calculate offers, plan assignments and check execution.

  What you bring:

  You know substrates, waterproofing, screed and types of flooring and know in which order the trades have to work in interior finishing.

  How to get there:

  The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the tile, slab and mosaic layer trade or in the parquet layer trade takes about one year full-time and 2 to 3 years alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are generally admitted with the journeyman certificate (Gesellenbrief). Both trades require a license, so for your own business you need the master qualification or an equivalent entitlement.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demanding
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• Plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning

  Also: Bathroom installer

  With retraining

  As a plant mechanic you install and service sanitary systems, heating systems and heat pumps.

  What you bring:

  You know bathrooms from waterproofing to the finished tile and work closely with installers on construction sites.

  How to get there:

  Retraining (Umschulung) as a plant mechanic for sanitary, heating and air conditioning (Anlagenmechaniker/Anlagenmechanikerin SHK) usually takes a good 2 years and can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). With a journeyman certificate, a shortened vocational training is also possible. Some bathroom renovators train tile layers on the job to install sanitary fixtures without a new qualification, but for heating technology the qualification is the rule.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically demanding

  €3,797gross per monthMedian salary

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• Instructor in the tile laying trade

  Also: Instructor at an inter-company training center

  With further trainingPromotion

  As an instructor you practice with trainees in courses and prepare them for the journeyman exam.

  What you bring:

  You are skilled in laying techniques, waterproofing and clean work in practice and can demonstrate techniques well.

  How to get there:

  The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the tile, slab and mosaic layer trade also includes trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung). It takes about one year full-time and longer alongside work, and it can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Full-time instructor jobs exist, for example, at inter-company training centers of the construction industry.*Regulated by law (Crafts Code (HwO) § 22b).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

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• State-certified construction technician

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a construction technician you plan finishing work, prepare tenders and supervise execution for construction firms, planning offices or housing companies.

  What you bring:

  You know interior finishing, substrates, waterproofing and moisture protection from practice and know where trades get in each other's way.

  How to get there:

  The vocational college for construction technology (Fachschule für Bautechnik) takes 2 years full-time or about 4 years alongside work and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). Access is usually with a journeyman certificate in a construction trade and at least one year of work experience; the federal state sets the exact rules.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours

  €5,500gross per monthMedian salary

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• Hazardous materials remediation worker

  Also: Asbestos remediation worker

  With further training

  In hazardous materials remediation you remove fillers, plasters, adhesives or floor coverings containing asbestos and other pollutants under strict safety rules, often with breathing apparatus and in sealed-off areas.

  What you bring:

  You know old paint, fillers and coatings in existing buildings and work carefully with protective equipment.

  How to get there:

  Under the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, work with asbestos requires a specialist qualification (Fachkunde), and the supervisor on site needs an expertise certificate (Sachkunde) from an officially recognized course with an exam. The certificate is renewed every 6 years through further training, and the courses usually take a few days. Remediation firms also hire painters. Occupational health checks and fitness for breathing apparatus are part of it.*Regulated by law (Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) § 11a and Annex I number 3).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,703gross 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.