Career change as an animal keeper

Career change paths

• Specialist salesperson in the pet shop trade

  With on-the-job training

  In the pet shop trade you advise customers, care for the live animals in the store, and make sure animals are given only to suitable owners.

  What you bring:

  You know what dogs, cats, small animals, birds or fish need in feed, space and care, and you can advise owners clearly.

  How to get there:

  You start with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in the pet store, usually lasting a few weeks. Stores with a live animal department specifically look for employees with experience in animal care. Later you can earn a qualification as retail clerk (Kaufmann im Einzelhandel), also through the external exam (Externenprüfung) after several years of work experience, which opens the way to department or store management.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,122gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field sales representative for pet food

  Also: Specialist adviser for pet supplies

  With on-the-job training

  In field sales for a pet food or accessories manufacturer you look after pet shops and veterinary practices, present products, train staff, and take orders.

  What you bring:

  You know feeding, feed products and the questions of pet owners from daily work.

  How to get there:

  You get on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the manufacturer or wholesaler, usually a few weeks of product training. A class B driving license and willingness to travel are expected, and experience in sales is an advantage. Look for a permanent position: as a self-employed commercial agent you usually work on commission only and bear the risk yourself.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Tractor driver at a contractor

  Also: Machine operator in agriculture

  With on-the-job training

  At contractors or large farms, you drive tractors, feed mixer wagons and harvesting machines and help with maintenance.

  What you bring:

  You know agricultural processes, forage harvest and the handling of farm machinery.

  How to get there:

  Contractors give people with farm experience on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) at the machines. Depending on the vehicle, you need a driving license class T, L or CE. Long days are usual during harvest, and in winter there is often workshop work.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Little customer contactLots of time outdoors

  €3,080gross per monthMedian salary

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• Nursing assistant

  Also: Care support worker in elderly care

  With on-the-job training

  As a nursing assistant or care support worker, you support older people and people in need of care in daily life and with basic care.

  What you bring:

  You are used to getting up early, physical work and responsibility for living beings, and you stay calm when something unexpected happens.

  How to get there:

  Nursing homes and care services give career changers on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). For additional care support workers, there is a qualification of about 160 hours with an internship, often eligible for funding with an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Later, training in nursing assistance (Pflegeassistenz, from 2027 nationwide as Pflegefachassistenz) or in nursing is possible.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsShift workPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,296gross per monthMedian salary

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• Warehouse worker in agricultural trade

  Also: Feed warehouse worker

  With on-the-job training

  In the warehouse of an agricultural dealer or cooperative, you receive goods, store them, put orders together and load vehicles.

  What you bring:

  You know feed, bedding and farm supplies and can handle a farm loader and forklift.

  How to get there:

  Agricultural dealers and cooperatives usually give people from agriculture on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) right away, and you get the forklift license in a course of a few days. A qualification comes from retraining (Umschulung) as a warehouse logistics specialist (Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik), which usually takes about 2 years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLittle customer contact

  €3,235gross per monthMedian salary

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• Veterinary assistant (Tiermedizinische Fachangestellte)

  With retraining

  In the veterinary practice or animal clinic you assist with examinations and operations, look after animals and their owners, take samples, and organize the practice and billing.

  What you bring:

  You can hold and calm animals confidently, know about feeding and hygiene, and notice when an animal seems ill.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational training (Ausbildung) as veterinary assistant (Tiermedizinische Fachangestellte), which takes three years, and you receive a training allowance. With completed vocational training or the Abitur, it can be shortened on request. As retraining (Umschulung) it usually takes about two years. Funding through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter approves it.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €2,750gross per monthMedian salary

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• Animal shelter manager

  Also: Manager of an animal rescue station

  With further trainingPromotion

  As manager of an animal shelter you plan shifts and occupancy, lead the team, work with the veterinary office and the sponsoring association, and are responsible for the budget.

  What you bring:

  You know how to care for many animals, hygiene, quarantine, and the conversations with people giving up animals and with prospective owners from everyday work.

  How to get there:

  You usually get there after some years as an animal caretaker and with management experience, for example as a deputy. A fitting qualification is the further training course for certified master animal caretaker (Tierpflegemeister), which can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications). You are admitted with a qualification as animal caretaker, with another qualification and one to two years of work experience, or, without a qualification, after at least four years of work experience. For the second part of the exam, one more year is added. Management jobs also exist at animal shelters run by associations.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

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• Biology lab technician (Biologielaborant)

  With retraining

  As a biology lab technician you work in research laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry or food testing with cell cultures, microorganisms and samples, and carry out test series according to plan.

  What you bring:

  You work cleanly according to hygiene rules, observe animals closely, and reliably document weight, feed and anomalies.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational training (Ausbildung) as biology lab technician (Biologielaborant), which takes three and a half years, or retraining (Umschulung), which usually takes a good two years. Funding through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter approves it. Training places are offered mainly by universities, research institutes and pharmaceutical companies. Good knowledge of biology and chemistry helps with your application.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €4,005gross per monthMedian salary

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• Registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann)

  With vocational training

  In nursing you look after people in the hospital, in a home or at home, take over medical nursing care, and plan the care.

  What you bring:

  Every day you look after living beings that cannot help themselves, notice changes early, and work physically and according to fixed hygiene rules.

  How to get there:

  You do vocational training (Ausbildung) as a registered nurse (Pflegefachfrau/Pflegefachmann). It takes three years full-time or up to five years part-time, and you receive a training allowance. You need an intermediate school-leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss), or a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss) plus at least two years of vocational training. A qualification as animal caretaker counts as vocational training for this.*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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• Pest controller

  With further training

  As a pest controller you track down rats, mice, cockroaches or pigeons in businesses and residential buildings, plan countermeasures, and advise on prevention.

  What you bring:

  You know the behavior, way of life and hygiene risks of animals and work conscientiously with protective equipment.

  How to get there:

  You start at a pest control company with on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). You may use certain biocides, for example some rat poisons, independently only with expertise under the Hazardous Substances Ordinance. You gain this expertise in a recognized course with an exam and renew it every six years through further training. The vocational qualification is vocational training (Ausbildung) as pest controller (Schädlingsbekämpfer), which takes three years, or, after four and a half years of work experience, the external exam (Externenprüfung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) (§ 45 para. 2 BBiG).*Regulated by law (Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) § 15c and Annex I No. 4.4).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Physically demandingLots of contact with people

  €3,555gross per monthMedian salary

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• Animal physiotherapist

  With vocational training

  As an animal physiotherapist you treat dogs or horses after injuries and operations with massage, exercises and devices, usually in consultation with the veterinary practice.

  What you bring:

  You know the anatomy and movement patterns of animals, recognize lameness and protective postures, and can handle animals calmly.

  How to get there:

  The profession is not state-regulated in Germany. Private schools offer training courses, usually lasting one to two years alongside a job, which you generally pay for yourself. Content, the share of practical training and the final exam differ greatly, so compare carefully beforehand. Permanent positions exist mainly in animal clinics and rehabilitation centers, and you can also work self-employed.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of contact with people
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• Animal husbandry specialist

  Also: Horse management specialist

  With vocational trainingPromotion

  As an animal husbandry specialist (Tierwirt) or horse specialist (Pferdewirt), you take responsibility for the herd, health, breeding and documentation and work more independently.

  What you bring:

  You know feeding, milking, mucking out and handling cattle, pigs or horses from daily work in the stable.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) as an animal husbandry specialist (Tierwirt/in) or horse specialist (Pferdewirt/in) normally takes 3 years and can be partly shortened with prior experience. With several years of practice, you can also take an external exam (Externenprüfung) at the responsible body, which decides on admission.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsPhysically demandingLittle customer contact

  €2,913gross per monthMedian salary

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• Animal transport driver

  Also: Professional driver in agricultural transport

  With further training

  As a truck driver in agricultural and animal transport, you drive animals, feed or harvest between farms, dealers and processors.

  What you bring:

  You can load animals calmly and know what they need during transport.

  How to get there:

  You need a driving license class C or CE and the basic qualification as a professional driver (Grundqualifikation) with an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). For animal transport, you additionally need a certificate of competence after a course. Transport companies and the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) can help you get it.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV) § 6, Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG) §§ 2, 3, Professional Driver Qualification Ordinance (BKrFQV) § 2; for animal transport Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 Art. 17(2), Animal Welfare Transport Ordinance (TierSchTrV) § 4).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  €3,262gross per monthMedian salary

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• Gardener in landscape gardening

  With retrainingPromotion

  As a gardener in landscape gardening, you create and maintain gardens, paths and green spaces.

  What you bring:

  You like working outdoors, pitch in physically and can handle farm machinery.

  How to get there:

  Vocational training (Ausbildung) or retraining (Umschulung) as a gardener (Gärtner/in) specializing in landscape gardening (Garten- und Landschaftsbau) normally takes 3 years, and retraining usually about 2 years. Companies also first hire career changers as helpers and then support the training.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically demandingLots of time outdoors

  €3,208gross 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.