Vocational training in medical, orthopaedic and rehabilitation technology in Germany

During dual vocational training, you will be remunerated via a training allowance paid by the training company. Here is a rough estimate of how much you earn during vocational training in medical and rehabilitation technology.

• Optician: €682 – €1,100 per month (gross income)
• Hearing aid audiologist: €682 – €1,340 per month (gross income)
• Dental technician: €682 – €1,155 per month (gross income)

You should also know the following:

• You have to pay social security contributions from your gross income, for example for statutory heal insurance, pension insurance and unemployment insurance. These contributions are deducted automatically, before you receive your net income in your bank account.
• During vocational training, you only pay income tax if you have a higher gross income than €1,385 per month (in tax bracket I; as of 2025)

For vocational training, you generally need a school-leaving certificate. For vocational training in the dual system, you do not need to have it recognised for the visa. For school-based vocational training, the recognition of the foreign school-leaving certificate may be necessary. Good German skills are very important for vocational training, for example for vocational school. There is also the option of completing a language course in Germany to prepare for vocational training. Learn more details on the general requirements for vocational training here.

The additional soft skills that are oftentimes expected from applicants for vocational training medical, orthopaedic and rehabilitation technology are the following:

• diligence
• a sense of responsibility
• adroitness and hand-eye coordination

Foreign language skills are an advantage, for example to communicate with international patients. 

Have you already learnt or worked in a profession, or do you have an academic degree? No problem! You can additionally complete vocational training. It can even be an advantage if your previous experience is related to medical, orthopaedic and rehabilitation technology. Having your previous qualification recognised is not required.

Medical, orthopaedic and rehabilitation technology are fast-growing sectors in Germany. After successfully completing vocational training, you have a good chance of concluding an employment contract with your training company. Even as a trained skilled worker, there are numerous opportunities for further education and career development, for example, acquiring the title of Bachelor Professional (depending on the profession, as Meisterin/Meister for the profession of orthopaedic technologist  or Meister/Meisterin for the profession of hearing aid audiologist , amongst other options). You could also become a manager of a technical team in healthcare. On BERUFENET , you will find information on the job-specific options, depending on the vocational training.

In many cases, self-employment or academic studies are also an option, for example, in the field of medical technology or dental technology. To learn more about the general options after vocational training, please refer to the “Prospects after vocational training”.

Salary after vocational training

The best way to find out about the current salary levels is online research. Similar to the training allowance, there is a difference depending on the federal state you work in, the size of the company and whether the employer is bound to collective agreements. Therefore, you should make sure to look up information according to your situation and refer to multiple sources. For instance, use the Entgeltatlas  (remuneration atlas) of the Federal Employment Agency. Here are some examples of salaries:

• Orthopaedic technician: €2,808 per month (gross income)
• Opticians: €2,678 per month (gross income)
• Hearing aid audiologists: €2,833 per month (gross income)
• Dental technicians: €2,982 per month (gross income)  

You can also find more salary examples for your desired profession with the help of search engines.