In the 2002–03 season, Pfeifer won Austria's senior national men's title for the first time.

He then competed on the senior level at the 2005 Karl Schäfer Memorial, the final opportunity for countries to qualify an Olympic entry.

[1] He stated that Austrian skating officials disagreed with his decision to train abroad and his funding dried up, leading him to consider no longer competing for the country.

He placed tenth at the 2008 Nebelhorn Trophy and fifth at the 2008 Karl Schäfer Memorial before taking his fourth national title.

He then placed 20th at the 2013 World Championships, earning a spot for Austria in the 2014 Olympic men's event.

[3][4] Pfeifer began playing the cello as a child and attended a music conservatory in Austria before deciding to focus on skating.