Career change as a civil engineering worker

Career change paths

• Road construction machine operator

  Also: Excavator operator in civil engineering

  With on-the-job training

  As a machine operator, you drive an excavator, roller or asphalt paver, dig trenches, lay base layers and work from the cab, which is physically less demanding.

  What you bring:

  You know pipe trenches, road structure, compaction and the processes in civil engineering and work with machine operators every day.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) on the machine at the company, often with a course for earthmoving machines at training centers of the construction industry of a few days to weeks, plus written authorization by the company. For driving on public roads, you need the right driving license. Retraining (Umschulung) as a construction equipment operator (Baugeräteführer/in), usually about 2 years, gives you a qualification.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically lightLittle customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €4,089gross per monthMedian salary

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• 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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• 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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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.