Professions
Germany has hundreds of recognised training occupations. This page helps you narrow them down: start with what you want to do day to day, then compare the professions below.
How to choose a profession
- What kind of work do you enjoy? Working with people, technology, your hands, or numbers and paperwork?
- What qualifications do you have? Each profession has typical school and German-language expectations, shown on its own page.
- Do you prefer dual or school-based training? Dual training splits time between a company and a vocational school. Some professions, such as many health professions, are mainly school-based.
- Where could you work afterwards? Check the career options on each profession page.
Popular Ausbildung professions
| Profession | German name | Field |
|---|---|---|
| IT specialist | Fachinformatiker/in | IT |
| Nursing | Pflegefachmann / Pflegefachfrau | Healthcare |
| Medical assistant | Medizinische/r Fachangestellte/r (MFA) | Healthcare |
| Mechatronics technician | Mechatroniker/in | Technical |
| Industrial mechanic | Industriemechaniker/in | Technical |
| Electronics technician | Elektroniker/in | Technical |
| Hotel specialist | Hotelfachmann / Hotelfachfrau | Hospitality |
| Cook | Koch / Köchin | Hospitality |
| Warehouse logistics specialist | Fachkraft für Lagerlogistik | Logistics |
| Retail clerk | Kaufmann / Kauffrau im Einzelhandel | Retail |
What every profession page shows
- Training duration and type (dual or school-based)
- Typical school qualification and German level employers ask for
- Trainee pay by year, and pay after qualification, shown separately
- What you do day to day, and career options afterwards
- The official source we based it on, with the date we last checked
A note on pay
Trainee pay is not the same as the salary after qualification, and it varies by profession, training year, sector and region. We show both separately and never mix them.
Next steps
- Check if you meet the general requirements: Eligibility
- See which German level you need: Language
- Learn how to apply: How to Apply
Last updated: Oct, 9th 2026. Requirements and figures change, so confirm details with the official source on each page.