Career change as an actor
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 2 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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Voice-over speaker
Also: Presenter
With on-the-job training
As a voice-over speaker, you record audiobooks, advertising, documentaries or e-learning; as a presenter, you host events and shows.
- What you bring:
- You have a trained voice, speak confidently and have experience in front of a microphone and camera.
- How to get there:
- You need good voice samples and either your own recording setup or contacts to studios and agencies. Speaker training for special formats takes a few days. You can work freelance or apply for permanent positions at broadcasters.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically light -
Speech coach
Also: Rhetoric trainer
With on-the-job training
As a speech coach or rhetoric trainer, you prepare managers, students and specialists for talks, presentations and negotiations.
- What you bring:
- You know how voice, body language, presence and stage fright come across and can coach others in them.
- How to get there:
- A trainer course of a few weeks to months helps you plan and offer seminars. You can work freelance.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
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Assistant director
Also: Stage manager (Inspizient)
With on-the-job training
As an assistant director, you organize rehearsals, keep the prompt books and stay in contact with all departments; as a stage manager (Inspizient), you run the performances.
- What you bring:
- You know rehearsal work, stage procedures and the cooperation of direction, technology and ensemble from the inside.
- How to get there:
- Theaters often fill assistant director and stage manager positions with people who have no specific training for the job and train them in-house; your stage experience is a good basis for this. Expect evening and weekend work, but these are often permanent positions.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workLittle customer contact€4,200gross per monthMedian salary
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Event manager
Also: Event organizer
With on-the-job training
As an event manager, you plan company events, galas or cultural events, coordinate artists, technology and service providers and keep the schedule under control.
- What you bring:
- You know how an event comes across to an audience and know stage, technology and schedules.
- How to get there:
- Agencies and event venues train career changers with stage experience in planning, budgeting and contracts. Courses on event law and safety take a few days. Expect work in the evenings and on weekends.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsLots of contact with people€4,165gross per monthMedian salary
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Talent agent
Also: Program planner in the cultural sector
With on-the-job training
As a talent agent, you place actors in productions and look after their careers; as a program planner, you put together programs for stages and festivals.
- What you bring:
- You know the industry, castings, contracts and shooting schedules from your own experience.
- How to get there:
- Agencies and cultural organizations often take on industry insiders as assistants and train them in contracts and placement. Contacts to casting directors, productions and venues count most.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€4,200gross per monthMedian salary
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Public relations officer at a theater
Also: Press officer in the cultural sector
With on-the-job training
In the press and public relations of a theater or cultural organization, you write texts, handle media relations and social media and plan campaigns.
- What you bring:
- You know theater operations from the inside, know what attracts audiences and can tell stories.
- How to get there:
- Theaters and cultural organizations train people from the ensemble in press work and marketing; courses on press work and social media take a few weeks. Good texts as work samples help with your application.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office€5,318gross per monthMedian salary
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Theater educator
Also: Theater teacher at an art school
With further training
As a theater educator, you lead acting groups at theaters, schools, youth centers and in adult education and develop plays with amateurs.
- What you bring:
- You master acting techniques, improvisation and scene work and can inspire groups.
- How to get there:
- Further training in theater education according to the standards of the Federal Association for Theater Education (Bundesverband Theaterpädagogik) comprises at least 1,700 teaching units, and the duration depends on the institute. Permanent positions exist at theaters and with independent providers, and you can also work freelance.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€3,750gross per monthMedian salary
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Cultural manager
Also: Head of an independent theater
With further trainingPromotion
As a cultural manager or head of an independent theater, you plan seasons, apply for funding, lead staff and keep in touch with politicians and the audience.
- What you bring:
- You know theater operations, productions and the funding landscape and have often organized projects yourself.
- How to get there:
- Further training in cultural management alongside work takes a few months to about 2 years and covers financing, law and marketing. You usually only get management positions after experience in production management or dramaturgy.*
* 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 an actor without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Voice-over speaker, Speech coach, Assistant director, Event manager, Talent agent and Public relations officer at a theater.
Which retraining or further training suits me as an actor?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Theater educator and Cultural manager.
What promotion options do I have as an actor?
Promotions include, for example: Cultural manager.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Public relations officer at a theater (€5,318 gross per month), Speech coach (€5,254 gross per month) and Assistant director (€4,200 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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