Ausbildung profession · Food industry
Fachkraft für Lebensmitteltechnik Ausbildung in Germany: food technology specialist
A food technology specialist (Fachkraft für Lebensmitteltechnik) keeps a food production line running, from raw materials to the packed product. Almost every food and drink factory in Germany needs this profession.
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HRB 746028
German companyregistered at Ulm District Court
- German name
- Fachkraft für Lebensmitteltechnik
- Duration
- 3 years
- Field
- Food industry
- Where you work
- Food and drink factories: dairy, bakery, beverages, ready meals
- Training pay
- 1,266 euros a month on average in industry (2025)
- Language
- German, usually B1 for the visa
What you do every day
- Setting up and running production and packaging machines
- Setting recipes, temperatures and process times
- Checking the quality of raw materials and finished products
- Finding and fixing small machine faults
- Recording production data and following hygiene rules
Pay during the Ausbildung
In industrial companies covered by a collective agreement (Tarifvertrag), the average training pay in 2025 was 1,266 euros gross a month across all training years, according to the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB). The exact amount depends on the company, the region and the year of training. The legal minimum for an Ausbildung starting in 2026 is 724 euros a month in the first year.
These are gross figures. Social insurance contributions are deducted, and living costs in Germany are high. Our salary guide shows what is left after rent, food and insurance. For the visa, your training pay should be at least 1,048 euros gross a month (2026), otherwise you have to show extra funds.
Working hours and shifts
Many plants produce day and night. In many companies, night, weekend and shift work is paid with extra allowances on top of the basic training pay. Under German law, apprentices under 18 may not work night shifts.
Career after the Ausbildung
After qualifying you can become a senior operator or shift leader. Common next steps are Industriemeister in food production or a state-certified Techniker in food technology.
After the Ausbildung you can stay in Germany as a skilled worker. In many industrial professions, skilled workers earn more than twice the training pay. Read after the Ausbildung for the residence rules.
This profession suits you if …
- You are interested in machines and production processes
- You are careful and disciplined about hygiene
- You like working in a team
It may not suit you if …
- You do not want to work shifts
- You would rather work in an office
Questions about this Ausbildung
The Ausbildung as food technology specialist (Fachkraft für Lebensmitteltechnik) takes 3 years. It is a dual training: most of the week you work in the company, the rest you spend at a vocational school. With very good results, the training can sometimes be shortened.
According to BIBB, the average in industry and trade was 1,266 euros gross a month in 2025 in companies with a collective agreement, averaged across all training years. Pay rises every year of the training. The legal minimum in the first year is 724 euros a month for a start in 2026.
Yes. From outside the EU you need a training contract with a German company, German at level B1 and a visa for vocational training. Because few German school-leavers know this profession, companies are often open to applicants from abroad. Vocational school and the final exam are in German.
Interested in this profession?
Acaluna places apprentices from Indonesia in this profession with German companies that commission us. If you live in Indonesia, have finished 12 years of school and hold a German B1 certificate, check in one minute whether you can apply.
Pay: Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), collectively agreed training pay 2025. Profession details: Federal Employment Agency (BERUFENET). Status: September 2026. Which professions we offer each year depends on the needs of the companies that commission us. Also available in Bahasa Indonesia.
More guides
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School certificate, German level, age, money and visa, with official sources.
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The honest answer, the rare exceptions and how long B1 really takes.
Professions with real chances
Where the open training places are and which fields suit applicants from abroad.
Salary and living costs
Training pay by year, net income, a sample budget and pay after the Ausbildung.
Nursing Ausbildung: the reality
B2 German, certificate recognition, the state exam and the workload.
The Ausbildung visa
Requirements, approval, steps at the embassy and the first appointments after arrival.
Is an Ausbildung in Germany realistic for you?
Seven questions, one minute, an honest answer: what you already have, what is still missing and whether we can place you. We are also preparing a step-by-step online course for applicants from every country.