Working in municipal street cleaning in Germany can be a good employment opportunity for people who enjoy outdoor work and prefer practical activities rather than office jobs.

German cities need street cleaning workers throughout the year to keep roads, pavements, parks, public squares, and other public areas clean and safe. Municipal cleaning companies offer opportunities for both experienced workers and newcomers.

1. What Does a Municipal Street Cleaning Worker Do?

The daily responsibilities may include:

• Cleaning streets, pavements, and public squares.
• Collecting rubbish and emptying public waste bins.
• Removing leaves, weeds, and other waste.
• Operating mechanical street sweeping machines.
• Cleaning parks, playgrounds, and bus stops.
• Supporting waste collection teams.
• Removing snow and ice during winter.
• Maintaining public areas after markets and events.

Some positions involve manual cleaning, while others include operating specialised cleaning vehicles and machinery.

2. How Much Can You Earn?

Salaries depend on the employer, city, experience, and collective labour agreements.

For example, Berlin’s municipal cleaning company BSR advertises a gross monthly salary of approximately €3,404 for street and green-area cleaning workers (figures from May 2026).




Other municipalities and private companies may offer different salaries, additional allowances, paid holidays, and other employment benefits.

3. What Are the Requirements?

Typical requirements include:

• Physical fitness and willingness to work outdoors.
• Reliability and punctuality.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Basic German language skills, depending on the employer.
• A category B driving licence for certain positions.
• A category C or CE driving licence for some vehicle operator jobs.

Previous cleaning or machine operating experience can be an advantage. Some employers also accept career changers (Quereinsteiger) without specific professional training.

4. Where Can You Find Jobs in Germany?

You can search for vacancies through these official websites:

1. Federal Employment Agency (Arbeitsagentur)
https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/jobsuche

2. BSR – Berlin City Cleaning Services
https://www.bsr.de/jobs-strassenreinigung

3. FES Frankfurt – Waste Management and Cleaning Services
https://hr.fes-frankfurt.de/karriere/

4. Stadtreinigung Leipzig
https://stadtreinigung-leipzig.de/jobs/

5. StepStone Germany
https://www.stepstone.de/

5. What Should You Search for?

Use these German job titles to find more opportunities:

• Straßenreiniger – Street cleaner.
• Stadtreinigung – Municipal street cleaning.
• Mitarbeiter Stadtsauberkeit – City cleaning worker.
• Kehrmaschinenfahrer – Street sweeping machine operator.
• Müllwerker – Waste collection worker.
• Winterdienstmitarbeiter – Winter maintenance worker.
• Grünflächenreiniger – Green area cleaner.

6. How Do You Apply?

1. Visit one of the job websites.
2. Search using the German job titles.
3. Select your preferred city.
4. Read the job requirements carefully.
5. Prepare your CV (Lebenslauf).
6. Include your driving licence and relevant work experience.
7. Submit your application online or by email as instructed in the job advertisement.

Applicants from outside the EU must also check the applicable German residence and work permit requirements.

7. Is This Job Worth Considering?

Municipal street cleaning is an important service in Germany and offers opportunities in many cities. If you enjoy outdoor work, are physically fit, and want to contribute to keeping public spaces clean, this profession may be worth considering.

Start your job search today and discover street cleaning and municipal employment opportunities across Germany!