Career change as a shoemaker
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 4 with on-the-job training and 4 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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Specialist consultant at a medical supply store
Also: Specialist consultant for compression garment fitting
With on-the-job training
At a medical supply store, you advise on compression stockings, bandages, insoles and aids, take measurements and adjust products.
- What you bring:
- You take exact measurements, know material and fit from the workshop and explain clearly to customers what they need.
- How to get there:
- Medical supply stores give new staff manufacturer training in compression and bandage fitting, usually lasting a few days to weeks, and after that you keep learning in the team. Working hours follow the store's opening hours, often including Saturday.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people -
Vehicle upholsterer
Also: Leather worker for vehicle and boat interiors
With on-the-job training
In vehicle saddlers' shops and at interior outfitters for cars, motorhomes, boats or aircraft, you make and repair seat covers, trim and steering wheel covers.
- What you bring:
- You cut leather, sew on industrial sewing machines, glue and stretch material and work cleanly down to the detail.
- How to get there:
- Saddlers' shops and interior outfitters usually give employees with experience in leather processing a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). A qualification comes from 3 years of vocational training (Ausbildung) as a saddler (Sattler), specializing in vehicle saddlery (Fahrzeugsattlerei). It can often be shortened because of your existing qualification.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours€2,735gross per monthMedian salary
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Group leader in the work area of a workshop for people with disabilities
Also: Group leader in the vocational training area of a workshop for people with disabilities
With on-the-job training
In a workshop for people with disabilities, you lead a work group, for example in leather processing, assembly or packaging, plan the orders and support the employees in their work and development.
- What you bring:
- You master a craft, work carefully and can demonstrate work steps and break them down into small steps.
- How to get there:
- Workshops hire journeymen and skilled workers with at least 2 years of work experience and give them on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the group. You complete the required special-education additional qualification later, part-time alongside work and within a reasonable time, under § 9 of the Workshop Ordinance (Werkstättenverordnung). Usually this is the upgrading course to become a certified work and vocational promotion specialist (Geprüfte Fachkraft zur Arbeits- und Berufsförderung). You are admitted with a vocational qualification and 2 years of relevant work experience, at least half a year of it in work and vocational promotion tasks.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLittle customer contact€4,350gross per monthMedian salary
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Boot fitter for ski boots
Also: Running analysis and sports insole specialist in a sports store
With on-the-job training
In a specialist sports store, you fit ski, hiking and running shoes, widen shells and uppers, make sports insoles and advise customers after a foot or running analysis.
- What you bring:
- You know foot shapes, lasts, padding and insoles and can adjust shoes so that they do not pinch.
- How to get there:
- Specialist sports retailers give employees with shoemaking experience on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) and send them to manufacturer courses, which usually last a few days to weeks. Jobs are mainly in larger sports stores and winter sports regions, with a lot of customers in winter and on Saturdays.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Lots of contact with people€2,700gross per monthMedian salary
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Master orthopedic shoemaker
Also: Master shoemaker
With further trainingPromotion
As a master craftsperson (Meister), you run a workshop, calculate orders, manage staff, train apprentices and take on difficult custom-made products and patient fittings yourself.
- What you bring:
- You know lasts, upper construction, soles and repairs, and you know how a shoe must fit and last.
- How to get there:
- The master craftsperson exam (Meisterprüfung) in the orthopedic shoemaker or shoemaker trade is held at the Chamber of Crafts (Handwerkskammer). It usually takes a few months to a year full-time and longer part-time, and it is eligible for Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with the journeyman exam (Gesellenprüfung) in the trade or a suitable qualification. To run your own business in orthopedic footwear technology, you need the master qualification or an equivalent entitlement, whereas the shoemaker trade has no admission requirements (zulassungsfrei).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€3,139gross per monthMedian salary
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Orthopedic technology mechanic
With retraining
In orthopedic technology, you make and fit orthoses, bandages and prostheses, often at a medical supply store (Sanitätshaus) in direct contact with patients.
- What you bring:
- You take measurements, build lasts and uppers and work confidently with leather, foams, adhesives and plastics.
- How to get there:
- Vocational training (Ausbildung) as an orthopedic technology mechanic (Orthopädietechnik-Mechaniker) takes 3 years and can often be shortened because of your qualification. The Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter can fund retraining (Umschulung) if the requirements are met. With a qualification as an orthopedic shoemaker, some medical supply stores will also put you to work fitting orthoses and bandages without a new qualification.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€2,953gross per monthMedian salary
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Podologist
With vocational training
As a podologist (Podologe), you treat corns, ingrown nails and callused skin and care for people with diabetes, for whom even small foot wounds are dangerous.
- What you bring:
- You know foot shapes, pressure points and misalignments and work precisely with a steady hand.
- How to get there:
- Training takes place at a state-recognized school for podology (Podologie), 2 years full-time or up to 4 years part-time, and ends with a state exam. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus a completed vocational qualification of at least two years. Whether tuition fees apply depends on the federal state and the school. Funding through the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter is possible in individual cases.*Regulated by law (Podologists Act (PodG) §§ 1, 4, 5).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people -
Registered nurse
With vocational training
As a registered nurse, you care for people in hospitals, nursing homes or at home, plan the care and help with treatment and wound care.
- What you bring:
- You work carefully with your hands, have direct contact with customers every day and know foot problems, pressure points and aids from the workshop.
- How to get there:
- Vocational training (Ausbildung) as a registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann) takes 3 years full-time, with training pay. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus a completed vocational qualification of at least two years. If you want to start with something shorter first, you can do the uniform nationwide training as a nursing assistant (Pflegefachassistenz) from January 1, 2027, usually 18 months full-time.*Regulated by law (Nursing Professions Act (PflBG) §§ 1, 6, 11).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€4,421gross 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 shoemaker without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Specialist consultant at a medical supply store, Vehicle upholsterer, Group leader in the work area of a workshop for people with disabilities and Boot fitter for ski boots.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a shoemaker?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Master orthopedic shoemaker, Orthopedic technology mechanic, Podologist and Registered nurse.
What promotion options do I have as a shoemaker?
Promotions include, for example: Master orthopedic shoemaker.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Registered nurse (€4,421 gross per month), Group leader in the work area of a workshop for people with disabilities (€4,350 gross per month) and Master orthopedic shoemaker (€3,139 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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