The jobs most people in German private security actually do. Easy to enter, tightly gated by §34a, low-paid at the bottom and genuinely skilled at the top.
| Official title | Sicherheitsmitarbeiter/in — role names vary (see below) |
| Historical term | Nachtwächter — archaic; survives mainly as a tourist-guide role in old towns |
| Protected title | No — but the activity is gated by §34a GewO |
| Category | security |
| Typical qualification | 40-hour Unterrichtung, or the §34a Sachkundeprüfung |
| Regulated | Yes, by activity. See the sector README |
| Last reviewed | 2026-09 |
The roles, and what each one needs
| Role | German | Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Site / building guard, night guard | Objektschutz, Werkschutz, Pförtner | Unterrichtung |
| Mobile patrol | Revierdienst, Streifendienst | Unterrichtung |
| Door supervisor / bouncer | Türsteher, Einlasskontrolle | Sachkundeprüfung |
| Retail loss prevention | Kaufhausdetektiv | Sachkundeprüfung |
| Patrols in public space | Kontrollgänge im öffentlichen Verkehrsraum | Sachkundeprüfung |
| Refugee accommodation | Schutz von Gemeinschaftsunterkünften | Sachkundeprüfung |
| Large protected events | Großveranstaltungen mit Zugangsschutz | Sachkundeprüfung |
| Aviation security screening | Luftsicherheitskontrollkraft, §5 LuftSiG | Separate federal certification |
Door work is not an entry-level job in Germany. Working the door of a club or bar requires the Sachkundeprüfung — the IHK examination, not the 40-hour course. This surprises people with door experience from countries where the barrier is lower.
“Nachtwächter” is a historical word. The modern job is Objektschutz or Revierdienst; the old term now mostly denotes the costumed night-watchman tours in medieval town centres. Recorded here the way this repo records Schlosser and Lehrling.
What the job involves
Access control and identity checks, patrol rounds and alarm response, CCTV monitoring, reception and key management, incident documentation, fire-safety and first-aid duties, and de-escalation. The written Meldung after an incident matters more than most newcomers expect — it is evidence.
You have no special powers. See the sector README: you act on ordinary citizen rights plus delegated Hausrecht, and exceeding them is your personal offence.
Conditions, plainly
Nights, weekends and 12-hour shifts are standard. Much of it is lone working, often at remote sites. Door and public-facing roles carry a real assault risk, and assaults on security staff are common enough to be a sector-wide occupational issue. Turnover is very high.
Night-shift supplements apply under §6 ArbZG and are a meaningful part of take-home.
Pay
Market estimates. The AEntG branch minimum for the Sicherheitsgewerbe sits above the statutory minimum and varies by region and activity — see the sector README:
| Role | Gross/month |
|---|---|
| Objektschutz, Unterrichtung only | €2,200 – €2,800 |
| With §34a Sachkunde | €2,400 – €3,100 |
| Türsteher (experienced, busy venue) | €2,600 – €3,400 |
| Luftsicherheitskontrollkraft | €3,200 – €4,000 |
| Objektleitung / Einsatzleitung | €3,300 – €4,300 |
Aviation security is the best-paid end and has its own federal certification and background checks — worth targeting deliberately.
Foreign candidates
- To work: no professional recognition needed, but §34a compliance is mandatory — Unterrichtung or Sachkundeprüfung, the reliability check, and Bewacherregister entry.
- The reliability check requires a clean record; for non-Germans that means a certificate of good conduct from your home country as well.
- The Sachkundeprüfung is in German and is a legal exam. This, not the physical work, is the barrier — and it is what separates €2,400 roles from €3,000 ones.
- For the skilled-worker visa: as with bartending, an Unterrichtung is not a qualification. §18a needs a recognised occupation — the 3-year Fachkraft, or something else. Westbalkanregelung (§26(2) BeschV) is widely used in this sector.
- Language: B1–B2. Incident reports, legal limits and de-escalation are all in German.
Pitfalls
- Assuming door work is entry-level. It needs the Sachkundeprüfung.
- Assuming you have powers you do not. Overstepping is a personal criminal matter.
- Unterrichtung is not a qualification for visa purposes.
- Check who pays for the Unterrichtung or Sachkunde — reputable employers fund it; some deduct it, or bind you with a repayment clause.
- Lone working at night — confirm what emergency contact and backup actually exist.
Sources
- Gewerbeordnung §34a — gesetze-im-internet.de/gewo, accessed 2026-09
- Bewachungsverordnung (BewachV) — gesetze-im-internet.de/bewachv_2019, accessed 2026-09
- Luftsicherheitsgesetz §5 — gesetze-im-internet.de/luftsig, accessed 2026-09
- BDSW — bdsw.de, accessed 2026-09