Career change as a childminder
With your experience you can switch to 9 jobs in Germany: 3 with on-the-job training and 6 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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School support worker
Also: Integration assistant, Educational assistant at primary schools
With on-the-job training
As a school support worker you help a child with a disability or special support needs in class and during breaks.
- What you bring:
- You can respond to individual children, bring calm and work with parents and professionals.
- How to get there:
- You start with an independent provider of youth services or integration assistance (freier Träger), with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), often including a course of a few days to weeks. The jobs are usually tied to a school year and often part-time. For educational assistant jobs at schools, each federal state has its own hiring rules.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€3,340gross per monthMedian salary
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Nursing assistant
Also: Nursing specialist assistant
With on-the-job training
As a nursing assistant you support older or sick people in daily life.
- What you bring:
- You take responsibility for people who need help, you are patient, and from looking after small children you know personal care, feeding and hygiene.
- How to get there:
- You start as a nursing aide after a basic nursing course (Pflegebasiskurs) of a few weeks. A qualification comes from training as a nursing specialist assistant (Pflegefachassistenz). From 2027 it will be the same across Germany and takes 18 months full-time, with training pay. With work experience in nursing, it can be shortened.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€3,296gross per monthMedian salary
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Care support worker
Also: Daily living companion
With on-the-job training
As a care support worker you structure the day for people with dementia or care needs, without taking on nursing tasks.
- What you bring:
- You plan activities, games, songs and craft sessions and bring patience and empathy.
- How to get there:
- You qualify under the guidelines for § 53b SGB XI: an orientation internship, at least 160 hours of classes and a care internship. Altogether this usually takes a few months, and it can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Jobs are available in care homes, day care centers and with outpatient care services.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Lots of contact with people€3,296gross per monthMedian salary
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Social care assistant
Also: Disability support worker
With further trainingPromotion
As a social care assistant (Sozialassistent) or disability support worker (Heilerziehungspfleger) you work in daycare centers (Kita), residential groups or facilities for people with disabilities, with a state-recognized qualification.
- What you bring:
- You know everyday life with children from experience: care, play and talks with parents.
- How to get there:
- Social care assistant (Sozialassistent): vocational school (Berufsfachschule) under state law, usually 2 years. Access is usually with a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) or an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss). Name and offer differ by federal state, and depending on the state this qualification is a way into early childhood educator (Erzieher) training. Disability support worker (Heilerziehungspfleger): vocational college (Fachschule), usually 3 years, in some places integrated with practice and paid. Access is usually with an intermediate school-leaving certificate plus vocational training, for example as a childcare assistant (Kinderpfleger) or social care assistant, or several years of work experience. For the Fachschule, Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications) is possible.*Regulated by law (State law: vocational school and vocational college regulations of the federal states).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€3,892gross per monthMedian salary
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Medical assistant (MFA)
With retraining
In a doctor's practice, for example a pediatrician's, you also handle scheduling and billing, draw blood and assist with examinations.
- What you bring:
- You deal calmly with children and worried parents and keep the overview even when it is hectic.
- How to get there:
- Vocational training (Ausbildung) takes 3 years and can be shortened on request, especially with the Abitur (university-entrance diploma) or a completed vocational qualification. Alternatively, you can retrain (Umschulung), which usually takes about 2 years and can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein).*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people€3,270gross per monthMedian salary
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Registered nurse
Also: Pediatric nurse
With vocational training
In nursing training you can specialize in caring for children and adolescents, for example in children's hospitals or outpatient pediatric nursing.
- What you bring:
- You know the care, nutrition and development of small children and notice when a child is not well.
- How to get there:
- Vocational training (Ausbildung) as a registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann) takes 3 years full-time or up to 5 years part-time, with training pay. You can specialize in caring for children and adolescents. Access is with an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or with a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) and at least two years of vocational training.*Regulated by law (Nursing Professions Act (PflBG)).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€4,421gross per monthMedian salary
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Occupational therapist
With further training
Occupational therapists do exactly that in a targeted way on a doctor's prescription, with children and with adults.
- What you bring:
- Through play, you encourage children's fine motor skills, perception and independence, and you notice when a child needs support.
- How to get there:
- Training at a vocational school (Berufsfachschule) takes 3 years and ends with a state exam. Access is with an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) or with a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus at least two years of vocational training. Depending on the federal state and school, tuition fees may still apply.*Regulated by law (Occupational Therapists Act (ErgThG)).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsLots of contact with people€4,001gross per monthMedian salary
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Office management clerk
Also: Office clerk
With retraining
In an office you use this care for correspondence, filing, scheduling and invoices, usually with fixed working hours.
- What you bring:
- You organize processes, document reliably and keep track of appointments and agreements with parents.
- How to get there:
- You can retrain (Umschulung) as an office management clerk (Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Büromanagement). It usually takes 2 years and can often be funded with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Regular vocational training (Ausbildung) takes 3 years.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€3,810gross per monthMedian salary
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Early childhood educator
With further trainingPromotion
As an early childhood educator (Erzieher) you plan the educational work yourself, observe and document the children's development and take responsibility for a group in a daycare center (Kita), an after-school care center (Hort) or all-day school.
- What you bring:
- You know everyday life with children from hands-on experience: care, play and talks with parents.
- How to get there:
- Vocational college (Fachschule) training under state law usually takes 2 to 3 years plus practice phases. Depending on the state and college, it is also offered integrated with practice and paid, or part-time alongside work. Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications) is possible. Access is usually with an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss) and a qualification as a childcare assistant (Kinderpfleger) or social care assistant (Sozialassistent). Depending on the federal state, you can also get in with the Abitur (university-entrance diploma) or several years of work experience. If you do not have one of these qualifications yet, training as a social care assistant is often the first step.*Regulated by law (State law: state recognition under the vocational college regulations of the federal states).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsLots of contact with people€3,995gross 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 childminder without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: School support worker, Nursing assistant and Care support worker.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a childminder?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Social care assistant, Medical assistant (MFA), Registered nurse, Occupational therapist, Office management clerk and Early childhood educator.
What promotion options do I have as a childminder?
Promotions include, for example: Social care assistant and Early childhood educator.
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), Occupational therapist (€4,001 gross per month) and Early childhood educator (€3,995 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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