What You Need to Know About Utilities Meter Reader
Example of Utilities Meter Reader Job Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
Life As an Utilities Meter Reader: What Do They Do?
- Answer customers’ questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
- Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.
- Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
- Update client address and meter location information.
- Report lost or broken keys.
- Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible.
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Utilities Meter Reader Skills
Utilities Meter Readers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Related Job Titles
- Field Technician
- Meter Reader
- Meter Reading Clerk
- Water Inspector
- Meter Technician
Job Outlook for Utilities Meter Readers
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 34,800 jobs in the United States for Utilities Meter Reader. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Utilities Meter Reader. There will be an estimated 2,300 positions for Utilities Meter Reader per year.

The states with the most job growth for Utilities Meter Reader are Alaska, Nevada, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Colorado, New Hampshire, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Utilities Meter Reader Salary
The typical yearly salary for Utilities Meter Readers is somewhere between $24,600 and $71,040.

Utilities Meter Readers who work in Delaware, Massachusetts, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Utilities Meter Readers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $38,920 |
Alaska | $59,040 |
Arizona | $51,690 |
Arkansas | $29,180 |
California | $61,010 |
Colorado | $60,130 |
Connecticut | $59,240 |
Delaware | $57,780 |
Florida | $38,090 |
Georgia | $37,480 |
Hawaii | $49,500 |
Idaho | $51,560 |
Illinois | $53,110 |
Indiana | $41,730 |
Iowa | $46,680 |
Kansas | $43,820 |
Kentucky | $36,240 |
Louisiana | $27,740 |
Maine | $39,210 |
Maryland | $44,510 |
Massachusetts | $61,540 |
Michigan | $43,320 |
Minnesota | $54,190 |
Mississippi | $30,260 |
Missouri | $39,720 |
Montana | $55,740 |
Nebraska | $46,390 |
Nevada | $58,920 |
New Hampshire | $57,370 |
New Mexico | $37,170 |
New York | $59,670 |
North Carolina | $41,160 |
North Dakota | $49,560 |
Ohio | $45,070 |
Oklahoma | $36,380 |
Oregon | $48,920 |
Pennsylvania | $52,090 |
South Carolina | $37,280 |
Tennessee | $42,550 |
Texas | $33,610 |
Utah | $49,050 |
Vermont | $55,670 |
Virginia | $39,950 |
Washington | $48,810 |
West Virginia | $40,040 |
Wisconsin | $56,730 |
Wyoming | $49,770 |
What Tools & Technology do Utilities Meter Readers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Utilities Meter Readers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Windows
- Billing software
- Mapping software
Becoming an Utilities Meter Reader
Are there Utilities Meter Readers education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Utilities Meter Reader?

Where Utilities Meter Readers Are Employed

The table below shows the approximate number of Utilities Meter Readers employed by various industries.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those who work as an Utilities Meter Reader sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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