Plumbing and heating technician (Anlagenmechaniker SHK)
A profession at the heart of the energy transition, installing the comfort and heating of tomorrow.
The profession
The plumbing and heating technician installs and maintains sanitary, heating and air-conditioning systems. They work in particular on heat pumps and renewable heating.
Salary
In an SHK trade apprenticeship, pay is lower and non-uniform, about 680 to 1,175 €/month depending on the federal state and the agreement (source: ausbildung.de, 2025). The entry salary after the diploma is around 2,840 €/month, and the average with experience about 3,999 € (source: powerus, hero-software, 2025).
Duration and path
Training lasts 3.5 years in the dual system, split between the company and the vocational school (Berufsschule), and ends with the chamber exam.
Employers hiring
Employers are SHK and heating firms, as well as climate-control and building-services engineering companies (TGA).
Prospects
Prospects are extremely strong: it is one of the most sought-after trades, driven by the energy transition and the rise of heat pumps.
Career progression
You can earn a Meister or technician qualification, progress to team leader or move into energy consulting.
Language level
The vocational school, the exam and the building site all take place in German. B2 is the standard employers expect, and that is the level we aim for.
Recognition and access
For an Ausbildung, no diploma recognition is required: you train directly in Germany and the 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 this trade really at the heart of the energy transition?
- Yes, installing heat pumps and renewable heating puts the plumbing and heating technician at the heart of Germany's energy transition.
- Does this trade follow the construction tariff?
- No, it follows an SHK trade agreement, separate from the construction tariff (Bau-Hauptgewerbe).
Indicative gross ranges from public German sources (Federal Employment Agency, Entgeltatlas, Gehalt.de, StepStone, the construction tariff Bau-Hauptgewerbe / SOKA-BAU). In construction, pay often follows the collective agreement and the sector minimum wage, and varies by region, employer and experience. Recognition and visa rules change: always check your case with the competent German authorities.