Industrial maintenance electronics technician (Elektroniker für Betriebstechnik)
A highly sought-after profession, driven by the energy transition, for those who keep industrial electricity alive.
The profession
The industrial maintenance electronics technician installs, wires, commissions and maintains industrial electrical systems, control cabinets, drives and automation. They ensure the electrical safety of the plant.
Salary
In an apprenticeship, pay is around 880 to 1,542 €/month depending on the sector and tariff (statutory minimum 682/805/921/955 €). The entry salary is about 2,880 to 3,600 €/month (often around 3,200 €), and the median across all experience levels about 4,137 €/month (higher in Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse, around 4,200 to 4,433 €, lower in Thuringia around 3,248 €) (source: Entgeltatlas, Federal Employment Agency, 2025). In M+E firms, the IG Metall tariff adds holiday pay, Christmas pay and shift bonuses on a 35-hour week.
Duration and path
Training lasts 3.5 years in the dual system, between the company and the vocational school, and ends with the chamber (IHK) final exam.
Employers hiring
Employers include RWE, Siemens, BASF and the chemical parks, car plants, maintenance operators and energy utilities.
Prospects
Prospects are very strong: electrical trades are among the most sought-after, further reinforced by the energy transition.
Career progression
You can earn a Techniker or Meister qualification, specialise in automation or electrical safety, and take on team leadership.
Language level
The vocational school, the exam and the workshop all take place in German. Level B2 is the standard for success, and that is the level we aim for in our language training.
Recognition and access
For an Ausbildung, no diploma recognition is required: you train directly in Germany and the chamber (IHK) diploma is recognised nationwide. You need an Ausbildung contract, the expected German level and, generally, a secondary school leaving certificate.
Visa
Entry is via the vocational training visa (Ausbildung). Once you graduate, you switch to a skilled worker permit to work in Germany. We check your eligibility and prepare the application with you.
Your Karriere Fähre support
We train you in German up to the required level, find the company and the Ausbildung contract, prepare the visa application and support you all the way to your arrival.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it a hazardous job?
- Work on electrical systems follows strict safety rules, and dedicated training prepares you for it.
- What is the difference from a building electrician?
- Here the work is on industry and automation, whereas the building electrician works on installations in homes and buildings.
Indicative gross ranges from public German sources (Federal Employment Agency, Entgeltatlas, Gehalt.de, StepStone, IHK, IG Metall). In industry, pay is often set by the collective agreement (IG Metall) and varies by region, employer and experience. Recognition and visa rules change: always check your case with the competent German authorities.