Career change as a gas station attendant
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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Service station manager
Also: Retail store manager
With on-the-job trainingPromotion
As a station manager you lead the team, plan shifts, manage ordering and the bistro, and are responsible for cash reconciliation and safety.
- What you bring:
- You know the till, ordering goods, shop sales and the safety rules at the fuel pump.
- How to get there:
- Leaseholders and oil companies put experienced employees in charge of a station after internal on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), often with courses from the operator. A recognized qualification for management tasks in retail comes from further training as a certified senior retail specialist (Geprüfter Handelsfachwirt). Without commercial vocational training, you are admitted to it with at least five years of work experience in retail.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workLots of contact with people€4,604gross per monthMedian salary
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Auto parts sales advisor
Also: Hardware store employee
With on-the-job training
In auto parts, accessories or hardware store retail you help customers at the counter or on the shop floor, look up suitable parts and take payment.
- What you bring:
- You know car accessories, care products and operating supplies and advise customers quickly and in a friendly way.
- How to get there:
- Retailers usually give career changers with sales experience a few weeks of on-the-job training, and manufacturers provide product courses. You often work fewer night and weekend shifts there than at the gas station.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Lots of contact with people€4,200gross per monthMedian salary
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Car rental agent
Also: Rental assistant
With on-the-job training
At a car rental company you hand over vehicles, check for damage, close rental contracts and advise on insurance and extras.
- What you bring:
- You are used to dealing with customers at the counter, working a till and handling vehicles.
- How to get there:
- Rental companies usually train career changers within a few weeks, and a driving license class B is required. Branches at airports and train stations often have long opening hours, while city branches keep more regular hours.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsLots of contact with people€3,237gross per monthMedian salary
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Auto parts warehouse worker
Also: Goods receiving clerk
With on-the-job training
In the warehouse of a retailer or logistics company you receive goods, put them into storage, put orders together and keep stock up to date in the system.
- What you bring:
- You know receiving goods, stock control and shelf care from the shop.
- How to get there:
- Logistics companies and retailers usually train career changers within a few weeks, and you often get the forklift license through the employer. For a recognized qualification, you can retrain (Umschulung) as a warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik), which usually takes about 2 years.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workPhysically demandingLittle customer contact€3,235gross per monthMedian salary
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Automotive mechatronics technician
With retraining
As an automotive mechatronics technician you service and repair vehicles, find faults with diagnostic devices and also work on electric and hybrid vehicles.
- What you bring:
- You deal with cars every day, know oil, tires and wipers and are interested in technology.
- How to get there:
- You can retrain (Umschulung) or do vocational training (Ausbildung) as an automotive mechatronics technician (Kfz-Mechatroniker/Kfz-Mechatronikerin). Retraining usually takes a good 2 years and is often funded by the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter. Work on high-voltage systems requires separate training courses later.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically demanding€3,527gross per monthMedian salary
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Tanker truck driver
Also: Hazardous goods driver
With further training
As a tanker truck driver you deliver fuel and heating oil to gas stations, businesses and households and fill the tanks yourself.
- What you bring:
- You know fuels, their dangers and the safety rules at the gas station from daily practice.
- How to get there:
- You need a driving license class C or CE, the basic qualification for professional drivers and ADR training for hazardous goods. Together this usually takes a few months, and transport companies, the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter often fund it. Hazardous goods drivers transport not only fuels but also other dangerous goods.*Regulated by law (Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG) §§ 2, 3, 5; Driving License Regulation (FeV) § 6).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift work€3,262gross per monthMedian salary
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Electronics technician for energy and building technology
Also: EV charging station installer
With retraining
As an electronics technician you install charging stations, photovoltaics and electrical systems in buildings and test them for safety.
- What you bring:
- At the gas station you see how electric mobility is developing, and you are interested in technology.
- How to get there:
- You can retrain (Umschulung) as an electronics technician for energy and building technology (Elektroniker/Elektronikerin für Energie- und Gebäudetechnik). It usually takes a good 2 years and is often funded by the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or the Jobcenter. Some companies also give assembly helpers for charging stations on-the-job training, but then only a qualified electrician (Elektrofachkraft) may make the electrical connections.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically demanding€3,675gross per monthMedian salary
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Security guard
Also: Property security officer
With further training
In a security service you guard buildings, businesses or events, check access and do rounds.
- What you bring:
- You are used to night and shift work, stay calm in difficult situations and know the rules on cash security and robbery protection.
- How to get there:
- Depending on the job, you need either a 40-hour briefing course (Unterrichtung) or an expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) to work in the security industry. Preparation courses take a few days to weeks. The authorities also have to check that you are reliable.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Act (GewO) § 34a (1a), Security Services Ordinance (BewachV) §§ 7, 9 to 11).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people€3,200gross 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 gas station attendant without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Service station manager, Auto parts sales advisor, Car rental agent and Auto parts warehouse worker.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a gas station attendant?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Automotive mechatronics technician, Tanker truck driver, Electronics technician for energy and building technology and Security guard.
What promotion options do I have as a gas station attendant?
Promotions include, for example: Service station manager.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Service station manager (€4,604 gross per month), Auto parts sales advisor (€4,200 gross per month) and Electronics technician for energy and building technology (€3,675 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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