Career change as a train conductor
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 3 with on-the-job training and 5 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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Dispatcher in rail transport
Also: Transport control employee
With on-the-job training
In the transport control or dispatching of a railway company you plan staff and vehicles, organize replacements in case of disruptions, and inform train staff and passenger information.
- What you bring:
- You know from the train what delays, cancellations and missing staff mean for passengers and connections.
- How to get there:
- This is an internal switch with a few weeks to a few months of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), often after several years as a train conductor. Confident use of computers and dispatching programs is expected. Dispatching usually works in shifts (Schichtdienst). For later management tasks, further training such as the course for certified senior specialist in passenger transport and mobility (Geprüfte/r Fachwirt/in für Personenverkehr und Mobilität) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) helps.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€3,929gross per monthMedian salary
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Customer adviser in a travel center
Also: Employee in the customer center of a transport company
With on-the-job training
In the travel center or customer center you advise on connections and tickets, sell tickets and subscriptions, and process refunds.
- What you bring:
- You know fares, connections, passenger rights and booking systems, and you explain them patiently even to stressed travelers.
- How to get there:
- You can switch internally or start at transport associations and transport companies, with a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). You work at a fixed location, often in shifts (Schichtdienst) with weekends. Customer centers and telephone service also offer jobs.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office€3,568gross per monthMedian salary
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Employee in the municipal public order service
Also: Traffic warden
With on-the-job training
In the municipal public order service you are out on behalf of the city, check compliance with bylaws and ordinances, issue warnings, and work with the police.
- What you bring:
- You check tickets, enforce rules in a friendly but firm way, and stay objective even when insulted.
- How to get there:
- Cities and municipalities also hire career changers with experience in dealing with the public and train them in courses on legal basics, personal safety and communication, lasting a few weeks to a few months depending on the state and municipality. A clean police clearance certificate and physical fitness are expected. Evening and weekend duty are part of the job.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Shift workLots of contact with peopleLots of time outdoors€3,715gross per monthMedian salary
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Train driver (Triebfahrzeugführer)
Also: Locomotive driver
With further training
As a locomotive driver you drive regional, long-distance or freight trains, check your vehicle before the trip, and react to disruptions according to fixed rules.
- What you bring:
- You know routes, stations, timetables and the operating processes in train traffic from daily work on board, and you are used to shift work (Schichtdienst).
- How to get there:
- You qualify as a train driver at your railway company or a training provider, which usually takes about one year. Large railway companies also retrain their own employees for this. The law requires a lower secondary school certificate (Hauptschulabschluss), as a rule a minimum age of 20, and medical and psychological fitness. Funding through an education voucher (Bildungsgutschein) is possible if the Federal Employment Agency (Agentur für Arbeit) or Jobcenter approves it.*Regulated by law (Train Driver License Ordinance (TfV) § 5).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact€4,322gross per monthMedian salary
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Train dispatcher (Fahrdienstleiter)
Also: Signal box operator
With vocational training
In the signal box you regulate, as train dispatcher, the train traffic on your section, set routes and signals, and decide how to proceed in case of disruptions.
- What you bring:
- You know operating processes, timetables and how train, station and control center coordinate from hands-on experience.
- How to get there:
- You qualify at the operator of the rail infrastructure, which usually takes several months to about one year with an exam, plus a medical fitness examination and an aptitude test. If you want a qualification of your own, you can do the vocational training (Ausbildung) as railway operations specialist (Eisenbahner im Betriebsdienst). Shift work, night work and weekend duty are the rule.*Regulated by law (Railway Construction and Operating Regulations (EBO) §§ 47, 48).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLittle customer contact€3,929gross per monthMedian salary
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Bus driver in scheduled service
Also: Tram driver
With further training
As a bus or tram driver you drive in scheduled service according to the timetable, help passengers, and react to disruptions in traffic.
- What you bring:
- You know passengers, fares and operations in local transport, stay calm in conflicts, and are used to shift work (Schichtdienst).
- How to get there:
- For the bus you need a class D driving license and the accelerated basic qualification, which usually take a few months in total. Some transport companies train career changers themselves, including the driving license. For the tram, the transport company trains you in-house and checks your suitability. The requirements are a minimum age of 21 and medical fitness.*Regulated by law (Driving License Ordinance (FeV), Professional Driver Qualification Act (BKrFQG), Tram Construction and Operating Regulations (BOStrab) §§ 11, 12).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Often at weekendsShift workPhysically lightLots of contact with people€3,585gross per monthMedian salary
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Trainer for train conductors
Also: Trainer for mobility and transport services clerks
With further trainingPromotion
As a trainer you train new train conductors, look after apprentices, and prepare them for exams.
- What you bring:
- You know fares, customer contact, safety tasks on the train and difficult situations with passengers from hands-on experience.
- How to get there:
- To train apprentices you need a suitable vocational qualification, for example as mobility and transport services clerk (Kaufmann für Mobilität und Verkehrsservice), work experience and the trainer aptitude certificate (Ausbildereignung), which you prove in an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Preparation courses are optional, and their length depends on the provider. Trainer jobs for the in-house qualification of train conductors exist mainly at large railway companies and their training centers.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO)).
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Physically lightLittle customer contact€5,075gross per monthMedian salary
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Security employee in public transport
Also: Security service employee
With retraining
In the security service, for example at security companies working on behalf of transport companies, you patrol stations and trains, enforce house rules, and support passengers and staff in incidents.
- What you bring:
- You are used to conflicts with passengers, stay calm and firm, and know stations and trains also at night and on weekends.
- How to get there:
- For patrols in publicly accessible areas such as stations you need to pass the expertise exam under § 34a GewO (Sachkundeprüfung) at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Preparation courses usually take a few weeks, plus a reliability check by the authority. Later, you can do training (Ausbildung) or retraining (Umschulung) as protection and security specialist (Fachkraft für Schutz und Sicherheit).*Regulated by law (§ 34a Trade Regulation Act (GewO), Security Services Ordinance (BewachV)).
* 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 train conductor without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Dispatcher in rail transport, Customer adviser in a travel center and Employee in the municipal public order service.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a train conductor?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Train driver (Triebfahrzeugführer), Train dispatcher (Fahrdienstleiter), Bus driver in scheduled service, Trainer for train conductors and Security employee in public transport.
What promotion options do I have as a train conductor?
Promotions include, for example: Trainer for train conductors.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Trainer for train conductors (€5,075 gross per month), Train driver (Triebfahrzeugführer) (€4,322 gross per month) and Train dispatcher (Fahrdienstleiter) (€3,929 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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