Career change as a software developer
With your experience you can switch to 7 jobs in Germany: 6 with on-the-job training and 1 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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IT business analyst
Also: Requirements engineer
With on-the-job training
As a business analyst or requirements engineer, you work out with the business departments what a piece of software should do and write requirements for developer teams.
- What you bring:
- You understand how software is built and see early on where requirements are unclear.
- How to get there:
- Companies and consulting firms train developers in analysis and business processes. You can earn a certificate such as IREB CPRE in a few days.*
* 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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Software development team lead
Also: Head of engineering
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As a team lead or head of engineering, you manage developer teams, plan capacity and make sure collaboration with product and operations runs smoothly.
- What you bring:
- You know architecture, code quality and development processes from your own work.
- How to get there:
- Promotion usually happens within your own company, often by becoming the technical lead of a team. Leadership training takes a few days.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€8,445gross per monthMedian salary
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IT security consultant
Also: Penetration tester
With on-the-job training
As an IT security consultant or penetration tester, you test applications for vulnerabilities, advise teams and help with secure development.
- What you bring:
- You know how software is built and where typical security gaps arise.
- How to get there:
- Security firms and companies train experienced developers. You prepare for the hands-on OSCP certificate over a few weeks to months; for the CISSP, the provider ISC2 also requires five years of work experience in information security.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an officeHome office possible€5,295gross per monthMedian salary
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IT trainer
Also: Programming instructor
With on-the-job training
As an IT trainer or lecturer, you teach programming and software development to people in retraining (Umschulung), to trainees and to specialists.
- What you bring:
- You program confidently in several languages and can explain why code is good or bad.
- How to get there:
- Training providers and academies hire developers as employees or on a freelance basis, and a teaching course of a few weeks helps. If you want to train apprentices in a company, you also need the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light€5,449gross per monthMedian salary
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Solution engineer
Also: Pre-sales consultant
With on-the-job training
As a solution engineer or pre-sales consultant, you demonstrate software, build prototypes and support the sales team with technical questions.
- What you bring:
- You understand software and interfaces in detail and can show customers how a product solves their problem.
- How to get there:
- Software vendors give developers product training of a few weeks. Part of the pay is often performance-based.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleHome office possible€6,745gross per monthMedian salary
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Agile coach
Also: IT consultant
With on-the-job training
As an agile coach or IT consultant, you help teams and organizations with ways of working, processes and large IT projects.
- What you bring:
- You know agile methods, teamwork and typical problems in software projects from your own experience.
- How to get there:
- Consulting firms and companies train experienced developers. Certificates such as Scrum Master or courses in coaching take a few days to weeks. Good communication counts more here than programming.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightHome office possible€6,768gross per monthMedian salary
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Computer science teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg)
Also: Teacher for mathematics and computer science
With a degree
Through the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg), you teach computer science at secondary schools and often a second subject such as mathematics.
- What you bring:
- You can teach programming from real-world practice.
- How to get there:
- With a master's or diploma degree in computer science, you can be admitted through the alternative route, depending on the federal state. You teach from the start and qualify alongside work, usually for one to two years. Without a university degree, this path is generally closed.*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
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 software developer without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: IT business analyst, Software development team lead, IT security consultant, IT trainer, Solution engineer and Agile coach.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a software developer?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Computer science teacher via the alternative route (Seiteneinstieg).
What promotion options do I have as a software developer?
Promotions include, for example: Software development team lead.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Software development team lead (€8,445 gross per month), Agile coach (€6,768 gross per month) and Solution engineer (€6,745 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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