Career change as a veterinarian

Career change paths

• Food safety quality manager

  Also: Hygiene officer in the food industry

  With on-the-job training

  In slaughterhouses, dairies or at food manufacturers, you are responsible for hygiene concepts, in-house controls and audits.

  What you bring:

  You know hygiene, zoonoses and foods of animal origin from your studies and practice.

  How to get there:

  Food companies train veterinarians on the job in their quality systems and standards such as IFS. Courses on these take a few days to a few weeks. Working hours are usually more regular than in a veterinary practice.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,327gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Animal health specialist advisor

  Also: Technical manager for veterinary medicines

  With on-the-job training

  At manufacturers of veterinary medicines or feed, you advise veterinarians and farms professionally and train them.

  What you bring:

  You know what questions practices and farmers have about medicines, vaccines and feed.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers give veterinarians product training over a few weeks to a few months. Expect field work and travel in a fixed sales territory.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Research associate in animal health research

  Also: Study director in preclinical research

  With on-the-job training

  In research institutes or pharma companies, you plan and supervise studies, evaluate findings and keep an eye on animal welfare and documentation.

  What you bring:

  You know the physiology, pathology and infectious diseases of animals and work precisely.

  How to get there:

  Research institutions and pharma companies train veterinarians on the job in study planning and quality rules. A doctorate is often desired in research but not always needed for positions in industry.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,870gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Animal health policy advisor in a ministry

  Also: Consumer protection policy advisor in a state authority

  With on-the-job training

  In ministries and state authorities, you prepare regulations, crisis plans and inspection programs.

  What you bring:

  You know animal diseases, animal welfare and food safety from practice.

  How to get there:

  Authorities hire veterinarians and train them on the job in administrative and veterinary law. For positions in the public veterinary service, the official veterinarian exam (Amtstierarztprüfung) or the specialist veterinarian title for public veterinary services (Fachtierarzt für öffentliches Veterinärwesen) is often expected. The states and the veterinary chambers regulate the routes to these qualifications differently.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €6,457gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Lecturer for veterinary assistants

  Also: Lecturer in further training for animal husbandry

  With on-the-job training

  At vocational schools, training providers or teaching institutions, you teach veterinary assistants (Tiermedizinische Fachangestellte), farmers or animal caretakers.

  What you bring:

  You can explain anatomy, pathology and practice procedures clearly.

  How to get there:

  Training providers and schools often employ veterinarians on a freelance or part-time basis. For a permanent teaching position at a state vocational school, the rules of the respective state for the alternative route into teaching (Seiteneinstieg) apply.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hours

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Specialist advisor in the animal health service

  Also: Animal husbandry advisor at a Chamber of Agriculture

  With on-the-job training

  In the animal health service or at Chambers of Agriculture, you advise farms preventively instead of treating sick animals.

  What you bring:

  You know herd management, barn hygiene and animal welfare from livestock practice.

  How to get there:

  Animal health services, chambers and producer associations train veterinarians with livestock experience on the job. There are few positions, spread across the regions.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people
  View job

• Specialist editor for veterinary medicine

  Also: Editor for animal husbandry

  With on-the-job training

  At trade publishers or advice portals, you write and check articles for veterinarians, farmers or animal owners.

  What you bring:

  You can present veterinary topics accurately and clearly.

  How to get there:

  Trade publishers train veterinarians with writing experience on the job, and writing samples are important. You can start freelance alongside your practice or apply for permanent positions.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible

  €4,728gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

• Teacher for special tasks at a university

  Also: Lecturer in animal health at a university of applied sciences

  With on-the-job training

  At universities of agricultural or food sciences, you teach and supervise internships and final theses.

  What you bring:

  You can pass on practical knowledge of animal health, hygiene and food safety.

  How to get there:

  Positions as a teacher for special tasks (Lehrkraft für besondere Aufgaben) require a university degree, and a doctorate is often desired. For a professorship, a doctorate and several years of professional practice are usually required.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €6,119gross per monthMedian salary

  View job

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.