Career change as an insurance clerk

Career change paths

• Field claims adjuster

  Also: Large loss case officer

  With on-the-job training

  As a claims adjuster, you inspect damage to buildings, vehicles or businesses on site, check cause and extent, negotiate with injured parties and craftspeople and decide on the settlement.

  What you bring:

  You know insurance conditions, coverage checks and typical claims from advice and processing.

  How to get there:

  Insurers move insurance clerks into adjuster roles after a few years in inside sales or sales and train them in construction and vehicle technology, usually over several months. A class B driving license and willingness to travel in the settlement territory are expected.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €4,797gross per monthMedian salary

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• Customer adviser at a health insurance fund

  Also: Corporate client manager at a health insurance fund

  With on-the-job training

  At a statutory health insurance fund, you advise insured persons and employers on membership, contributions and benefits and attract new members.

  What you bring:

  You know health and long-term care insurance, advisory conversations and the handling of applications and contracts from insurance practice.

  How to get there:

  Health insurance funds hire insurance clerks for customer advice and sales and train them internally in social insurance law, often over several months. For permanent case-officer work, some funds later expect the exam as a social insurance specialist (Sozialversicherungsfachangestellte/r) or an internal course.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible

  €3,964gross per monthMedian salary

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• Recruitment consultant in temporary agency work

  Also: Recruiter

  With on-the-job training

  As a recruitment consultant, you win companies as customers, search for suitable applicants, hold interviews and support assignments.

  What you bring:

  You approach people actively, recognize needs, can sell offers and maintain customer relationships over years.

  How to get there:

  Temporary work agencies and recruitment firms like to hire sales professionals from insurance and train them for a few weeks. A recognized qualification comes from training as a personnel services clerk (Personaldienstleistungskaufmann/Personaldienstleistungskauffrau). After some years in HR work, you can take the upgrading course for certified HR specialist (Geprüfter Personalfachkaufmann/Personalfachkauffrau, IHK).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,046gross per monthMedian salary

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• Real estate agent

  Also: Real estate adviser

  With on-the-job training

  As a real estate agent, you market apartments and houses, conduct viewings, advise on price and financing and accompany buyers and sellers up to the notary appointment.

  What you bring:

  You sell products that need explaining, know building insurance and financing questions and can close deals.

  How to get there:

  Real estate agencies, banks and property developers hire sales professionals from insurance and train them. For your own work as an agent, you need a permit under § 34c GewO, but no expertise exam is required for it. Training as a real estate clerk (Immobilienkauffrau/Immobilienkaufmann) gives a solid foundation.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursLots of contact with people

  €3,940gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sales trainer

  Also: Trainer in brokerage training

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As a trainer at an insurer or training provider, you train new talent, prepare them for the expertise exam (Sachkundeprüfung) and train brokers in products, advice and sales.

  What you bring:

  You know advisory conversations, needs analysis and handling of objections from practice and can demonstrate them to others.

  How to get there:

  Insurers and training providers of the industry fill trainer positions with experienced brokers or managers and train them. The trainer aptitude exam (Ausbildereignung, AEVO) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and a trainer course of a few months improve your chances. You can work freelance as a trainer, and permanent positions exist mainly in the academies of large insurers.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Credit clerk

  Also: Mortgage finance clerk

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  In credit processing you check loan applications, creditworthiness and collateral, prepare decisions, and monitor ongoing loans.

  What you bring:

  From the back office of a bank you know account management, payment transactions, loan contracts or securities settlement and the internal controls.

  How to get there:

  Banks deploy experienced back office staff in credit processing after internal training, usually over a few months. For further steps, the further training course for certified senior banking specialist (Bankfachwirt) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) fits. If you are a bank clerk (Bankkaufmann), you are admitted after two years of work experience, with another commercial qualification after three years.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €5,219gross per monthMedian salary

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• Application support specialist for insurance or banking software

  Also: IT support employee in a specialist department

  With on-the-job training

  In application support you test new versions, describe errors for development, train users, and help with faults in the specialist applications.

  What you bring:

  You know your company's specialist applications in detail and know where colleagues get stuck in everyday work.

  How to get there:

  Banks, insurers and their IT service providers like to fill such jobs with experienced clerks as a link to IT, and they give them a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). You can add IT basics, for example on database queries and test methods, through courses.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €5,568gross per monthMedian salary

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• Payroll accountant

  Also: Payroll clerk

  With on-the-job training

  In payroll accounting you calculate wages and salaries, report data to health insurance funds and the tax office, and answer employees' questions.

  What you bring:

  You work precisely with figures, deadlines and regulations and are used to processing confidential data.

  How to get there:

  Payroll courses at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or at training providers usually take a few months, also alongside a job, and can partly be funded through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein). Employers are companies, tax firms and payroll service providers, and as a tax assistant (Steuerfachangestellte) you often already bring payroll experience.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,010gross per monthMedian salary

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• Clerk at the tax office

  Also: Tax assessment employee under a collective pay agreement

  With on-the-job training

  At the tax office you process tax returns, check supporting documents and information, and issue notices, usually with regular working hours.

  What you bring:

  As a tax assistant you know income tax, value-added tax and tax notices from the clients' point of view.

  How to get there:

  In several states, tax offices hire tax assistants as employees under collective pay agreements (Tarif) and give them a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in tax administration and software. For the civil servant career as tax officer (Finanzwirt), however, you need a separate two-year training as a civil servant, with age limits that depend on the state.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €3,615gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of an insurance agency

  Also: Head of sales in insurance field service

  With further trainingPromotion

  As agency or sales manager, you lead a team of insurance brokers or an agency of your own, plan targets, recruit and train new talent and look after important customers.

  What you bring:

  You know insurance products, advice, sales and looking after a customer base from practice.

  How to get there:

  You take the upgrading course for Bachelor Professional in Insurance and Financial Investments (Bachelor Professional in Versicherungen und Finanzanlagen, IHK), formerly certified senior specialist for insurance and finance (Fachwirt für Versicherungen und Finanzen). You can take it alongside work, it is eligible for funding through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications), and the duration depends on the provider. With a qualification as an insurance and financial investment clerk (Kaufmann/Kauffrau für Versicherungen und Finanzanlagen), you are admitted directly. With another training occupation, you are admitted after one year of practice, as a certified insurance brokerage specialist (Geprüfter Fachmann/Fachfrau für Versicherungsvermittlung) after 2 years, otherwise after 5 years of work practice.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €8,030gross per monthMedian salary

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• Financial investment adviser

  Also: Fee-based financial investment adviser

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a financial investment adviser, you also advise on investment funds and other investments, create provision and investment concepts and look after customer assets over years.

  What you bring:

  You advise customers on protection and retirement provision and know advice documentation and liability risks from brokerage.

  How to get there:

  For commercial brokerage of financial investments, you need a permit under § 34f GewO with an expertise exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), and the length of preparation courses depends on the provider. Among others, insurance and financial investment clerks, the certified senior specialist for insurance and finance (Fachwirt für Versicherungen und Finanzen) and its successor, the Bachelor Professional in Insurance and Financial Investments (Bachelor Professional in Versicherungen und Finanzanlagen), are treated as equivalent and so are exempt from the exam. With the older training as an insurance and finance clerk, this only applies to the financial advice track.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Act (GewO) §§ 34f, 34h; Financial Investment Brokerage Ordinance (FinVermV) § 4).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people
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• Construction financing adviser

  Also: Real estate loan broker

  With further training

  As a construction financing adviser, you compare loans from many banks, work through customers' financing with them and accompany the application through to payout.

  What you bring:

  You advise customers on long-term decisions and know how to protect real estate purchases through residential building, term life or disability insurance.

  How to get there:

  For brokering real estate loans, you need a permit under § 34i GewO with an expertise exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), and the length of preparation courses depends on the provider. Among others, the certified senior specialist for insurance and finance (Fachwirt für Versicherungen und Finanzen) and its successor, the Bachelor Professional in Insurance and Financial Investments (Bachelor Professional in Versicherungen und Finanzanlagen), as well as certain tracks or elective qualifications for insurance clerks are treated as equivalent. The IHK checks whether this applies to you.*Regulated by law (Trade Regulation Act (GewO) § 34i; Real Estate Loan Brokerage Ordinance (ImmVermV) § 4).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office
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• Financial accountant

  Also: Certified balance sheet accountant (Bilanzbuchhalter)

  With further trainingPromotion

  In accounting you record and check business transactions, help prepare closings, and work together with tax advisers and auditors.

  What you bring:

  You are confident with figures, receipts and accounting software and know the processes in a financial or insurance business.

  How to get there:

  You often start with a job in financial accounting and financial accounting courses at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) or at training providers, which usually take a few months. You are admitted to the further training course for certified balance sheet accountant (Bilanzbuchhalter) with a three-year commercial vocational qualification, otherwise after five years of work experience, mainly in accounting. The course usually takes one and a half to two years alongside a job and can be funded through Aufstiegs-BAföG (state funding for advanced vocational qualifications).*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,010gross per monthMedian salary

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• Tax adviser

  Also: Senior tax specialist (Steuerfachwirt)

  With further trainingPromotion

  As a tax adviser you advise companies and private individuals on your own responsibility, represent them before the tax office, and can run your own firm or become a partner.

  What you bring:

  As a tax assistant you know bookkeeping, annual financial statements, payroll and clients' tax returns from daily work.

  How to get there:

  Without a university degree, you are admitted to the tax adviser exam after completing a commercial vocational qualification and eight years of practical work. With the further training course for certified senior tax specialist (Steuerfachwirt) at the Chamber of Tax Advisers (Steuerberaterkammer) or certified balance sheet accountant (Bilanzbuchhalter), you are admitted after only six years. The work must cover at least 16 hours per week in tax law. The exam is considered very demanding, and preparation courses usually run one to two years alongside a job.*Regulated by law (Tax Advisory Act (StBerG) § 36 para. 2 and 3).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an officeHome office possible

  €7,924gross 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.