Ausbildung profession · Industrial production
Maschinen- und Anlagenführer Ausbildung in Germany: machine and plant operator
A machine and plant operator (Maschinen- und Anlagenführer) sets up, runs and monitors large production machines. The Ausbildung takes only two years, and many apprentices continue into a related three-year profession afterwards.
ProvenExpertTop service provider and top recommendation 2025
Unternehmen der ZukunftAward from a German innovation institute
Indonesian Consul Generalvisited our office, 2025
Press
Schwäbische Zeitungreported on Acaluna, April 2025
HRB 746028
German companyregistered at Ulm District Court
- German name
- Maschinen- und Anlagenführer
- Duration
- 2 years
- Field
- Industrial production
- Where you work
- Food, paper, packaging, metal or plastics plants
- 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 machines for production and changing tools or formats
- Running and monitoring machines during production
- Checking product quality at regular intervals
- Maintaining machines and fixing small faults
- Recording production data and faults
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 two years you can work as an operator straight away or continue your training in a three-year profession, for example process technologist or industrial mechanic. With experience, the Industriemeister qualification is open to you too.
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 like machines and technology
- You notice quickly when something is not right
- You are ready to work shifts
It may not suit you if …
- You dislike repetitive work
- You do not want to stand for long periods
Questions about this Ausbildung
The Ausbildung as machine and plant operator (Maschinen- und Anlagenführer) takes 2 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
Apprentice stories and reviews
Videos, original reviews and photos from our apprentices in Germany.
Ausbildung in Germany: the complete guide
How the system works, who can apply from abroad and where most applicants go wrong.
Requirements and checklist
School certificate, German level, age, money and visa, with official sources.
Can you do an Ausbildung in English?
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.
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.