Career change as a road builder

Career change paths

• Fiber optic installer

  Also: Installer for telecommunications networks

  With on-the-job training

  As a fiber optic installer, you blow cables into empty conduits, splice fibers in distributors and house connections and measure the routes.

  What you bring:

  You know pipeline construction in public space, empty conduits, house connections and careful work in trenches and shafts.

  How to get there:

  A course to become a fiber optic installer (Glasfasermonteur/in) at a training provider usually takes a few weeks, with a lot of practice on the splicing device, and is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Companies in fiber optic expansion also give new people on-the-job training directly. The work requires fine motor skills and is physically lighter than in civil engineering, but it often takes place outdoors and in basements.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €4,394gross per monthMedian salary

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• Caretaker

  Also: Caretaker service worker

  With on-the-job training

  As a caretaker, you look after residential complexes, schools or company premises, do small repairs, maintain outdoor areas and take on winter maintenance.

  What you bring:

  You do manual work, can repair paving, gutters and paths and are used to working outdoors.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the employer. Caretaker services also hire career changers without a vocational qualification, while for caretaker jobs at housing companies or municipalities a trade qualification is often expected. Courses in building services of a few weeks improve your chances.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,260gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sales consultant for construction machinery

  Also: Product specialist for construction machinery

  With on-the-job training

  In sales at a manufacturer, dealer or rental company, you advise construction companies, demonstrate machines, prepare quotes and look after customers over the whole service life.

  What you bring:

  You know from practice which machine suits which site, what drivers need and where technology causes problems.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the dealer or rental company, usually lasting a few weeks to months, with product and sales training. A driving license class B and willingness to travel are expected. You can start as a machine demonstrator or at a rental station and later move into sales. You can get commercial knowledge through courses or further training.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Truck crane operator

  Also: Tower crane operator

  With on-the-job training

  As a crane operator, you lift and move components, material and machines on construction sites or in industry and work closely with the riggers on the ground.

  What you bring:

  You control heavy machines to the millimeter and confidently assess loads, ground and hazards on the construction site.

  How to get there:

  A crane operator course with an exam takes a few days to a few weeks depending on the crane type. In addition you need an occupational medical examination, instruction on the equipment and written authorization by the company. For truck cranes you also need a driving license class C or CE. Mobile crane companies look for experienced machine operators, and assignments with travel are usual there.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Little customer contact

  €4,153gross per monthMedian salary

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• Equipment dispatcher

  Also: Dispatcher in construction machinery rental

  With on-the-job training

  In the equipment dispatching of a construction company or rental company, you plan when which machines, low loaders and drivers are in use where, and coordinate with site management and the workshop.

  What you bring:

  You know which machine suits which job, how long relocating and transport take and what can go wrong on construction sites.

  How to get there:

  You can move internally to the dispatching of the construction depot or to a rental station, with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) usually lasting a few weeks to months. Confident use of the PC and planning programs is expected. For managing an equipment fleet, the upgrading course to become a certified construction machinery master craftsperson (Geprüfte/r Baumaschinenmeister/in) is a good way later.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €3,917gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sewer builder in infrastructure technology

  Also: Pipeline builder in infrastructure technology

  With retrainingPromotion

  As a sewer builder or pipeline builder, you lay sewers as well as water, gas and district heating pipes, build manholes and house connections and test for tightness.

  What you bring:

  You know pipe trenches, shoring, pipes, manholes and compaction from daily work in civil engineering.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as a sewer builder (Kanalbauer/in für Infrastrukturtechnik) or pipeline builder (Leitungsbauer/in für Infrastrukturtechnik), under these occupational titles since August 2026, takes 3 years, and retraining (Umschulung) usually about 2 years. It is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). You and the company can have a two-year qualification as a civil engineering skilled worker (Tiefbaufacharbeiter/in) in the matching focus credited with 24 months. After 4.5 years of practice in the occupation, the chamber can also admit you to the final exam without training. From age 25, there is also the validation procedure, in which the chamber assesses and certifies your work experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically demandingLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €3,918gross per monthMedian salary

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• Lead hand in civil engineering

  Also: Certified site foreman (Polier)

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a lead hand and later site foreman (Polier), you assign work and material, lead the crew, watch safety and deadlines and coordinate with site management.

  What you bring:

  You know the processes in civil engineering from the first barrier to the finished surface and know how a crew works together.

  How to get there:

  Experienced helpers often first advance to lead hand, and a vocational qualification in civil engineering speeds up the path considerably. Without a qualification, you are admitted to the further training exam to become a certified site foreman (Geprüfte/r Polier/in) after at least 6 years of relevant practice if you can prove the qualification of a works foreman (Werkpolier) or an equivalent one. The preparation is eligible for Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €5,941gross per monthMedian salary

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• Truck driver in civil engineering

  Also: Dump truck driver

  With further training

  As a truck driver, you drive gravel, asphalt, soil or equipment to construction sites and landfills and work largely independently on the road.

  What you bring:

  You know construction sites, bulk goods and the loading and unloading of material in road and pipeline construction.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE plus the accelerated basic qualification (Grundqualifikation) with an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Together they usually take a few months. Funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter approves it. Alternatively, vocational training (Ausbildung) as a professional driver (Berufskraftfahrer/in), 3 years, also gets you there.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV), Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Little customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Environmental technologist for wastewater management

  Also: Sewage treatment plant worker

  With retrainingPromotion

  At the sewage treatment plant or in sewer operations, you monitor pumping stations and treatment stages, take samples, maintain plants and keep the sewer network running.

  What you bring:

  You know sewers, manholes and pumps from pipeline construction and work carefully even where it gets dirty and tight.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as an environmental technologist for wastewater management (Umwelttechnologe/Umwelttechnologin für Abwasserbewirtschaftung) takes 3 years, and retraining (Umschulung) usually about 2 years. It is often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Good German and math skills are important for vocational school and the exam. Jobs are offered mainly by cities, municipalities and wastewater associations, often with on-call duty.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €4,070gross per monthMedian salary

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• Security guard

  Also: Property protection worker

  With further training

  In the security service, you guard sites, buildings and construction sites, do inspection rounds and check access points, physically less demanding than work in civil engineering.

  What you bring:

  You are used to working outdoors in all weather, know construction sites and pay attention to barriers and safety.

  How to get there:

  Briefing under § 34a GewO (Unterrichtung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) takes at least 40 teaching hours. You also need German skills at least at level B1 and a reliability check by the authority. For inspection rounds in publicly accessible areas or admission to discos, you need the expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) at the IHK instead.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Code (GewO) § 34a, Security Services Ordinance (BewachV) § 6).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically light

  €3,200gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse specialist

  Also: Warehouse logistics specialist

  With retraining

  In the warehouse, you receive goods, check and store them, put deliveries together and drive forklifts, for example in building materials trade or at logistics companies.

  What you bring:

  You pitch in strongly, work reliably by order and know how to handle material, pallets and loads on the construction site.

  How to get there:

  Retraining (Umschulung) as a warehouse specialist (Fachlagerist/in) usually takes about 16 months, and as a warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik) usually 2 years. Both are often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein), and the forklift license is usually included. You can also start as a warehouse helper with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), but the qualification brings better jobs.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,235gross per monthMedian salary

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• State-certified civil engineering technician

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a construction technician, you calculate quotes, plan and monitor construction sites, bill for work done and prepare quantity surveys and construction schedules.

  What you bring:

  You know soils, heights, gradients and the flow of civil and road construction sites and work from plans and height specifications.

  How to get there:

  Study at a technical college for construction technology (Fachschule für Bautechnik), with a focus on civil engineering (Tiefbau): 2 years full-time or about 4 years part-time alongside work. It is eligible for Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You usually need a vocational training, for example as a construction equipment operator (Baugeräteführer/in), and at least one year of practice. Without training, some states admit you after several years of work, and each federal state sets the exact rules.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekends

  €5,638gross per monthMedian salary

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• Agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics technician

  Also: Service technician for construction machinery

  With retraining

  As a mechatronics technician, you repair and maintain excavators, wheel loaders and rollers in the workshop or at the customer's construction site and work with diagnostic software.

  What you bring:

  You care for and maintain your machine every day, know hydraulics, engines and typical faults and fix small defects yourself.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as an agricultural and construction machinery mechatronics technician (Land- und Baumaschinenmechatroniker/in) takes 3.5 years, and retraining (Umschulung) usually a good 2 years. Funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter approves it. Dealers and construction companies with their own workshop sometimes also hire technically skilled operators as service helpers and then support the qualification.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demanding

  €3,584gross per monthMedian salary

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• Trainer for construction equipment operators

  Also: Instructor for construction machinery

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a trainer at a training center of the construction industry or as an instructor at manufacturers and training providers, you train apprentices, retrainees and machine operators on excavators, wheel loaders and other equipment.

  What you bring:

  You master various construction machines safely and can pass on operation and safety rules clearly.

  How to get there:

  For training apprentices, you need a suitable qualification, for example as a construction equipment operator (Baugeräteführer/in) or construction machinery master craftsperson (Baumaschinenmeister/in), and trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung), which you prove in an exam at the chamber. Preparation courses are optional, and their length depends on the provider. Manufacturers and training providers that offer courses for construction machine operators rely above all on long practice and experience with many machine types.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsLots of contact with people

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

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• Train driver

  Also: Locomotive driver

  With vocational training

  In the driver's cab of a locomotive or multiple unit, you drive according to timetable and signals and bear responsibility for passengers or goods, for example also for railway construction companies.

  What you bring:

  You control large machines in a focused and safe way, work to plans and safety rules and are used to early shifts and shift work.

  How to get there:

  You qualify as a train driver (Triebfahrzeugführer) with a railway company or training provider, usually in about one year. The law requires a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss), as a rule a minimum age of 20, and medical and psychological fitness. Some employers also expect a completed vocational training.*Regulated by law (Train Driver License Ordinance (TfV) § 5).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,322gross 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.