Karin Schröder first role was in New Year's Eve. She has an acting degree at the HFF Potsdam, where she had occasional stage guest performances. She has appeared in various films of the DEFA and the DFF. During her studies, she was engaged by the director Günter Reisch for roles in his contemporary comedies. Her early work focused on East German film and television productions. With notable radio plays. She had a great audience success in 1964 alongside comedian Rolf Herricht in the film musical Geliebte weisse Maus. At the 1978 IFF Karlovy Vary, she was named best actress alongside Hildegard Knef.

In 1987 she moved to the Federal Republic of Germany and became known as the boss in the long-lasting RTL series Die Wache nationwide. From 1994 to 1995, Karin Schröder played the role of Sophie Himmel-Eiler in the RTL soap opera Unter uns.