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Meter Readers, Utilities: Career Profile
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
What Tasks Do Meter Readers, Utilities Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of meter readers, utilities cover:
- Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.
- Upload into office computers all information collected on hand-held computers during meter rounds, or return route books or hand-held computers to business offices so that data can be compiled.
- Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
- Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
- Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
- Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.
- Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible.
- Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful meter readers, utilities rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Customer Field Representative
- Damage Prevention Specialist
- Electric Meter Reader
- Facilities Technician (Facilities Tech)
- Field Service Engineer
- Field Technician
- Fieldman
- Gas Meter Reader
Job Outlook
There are about 430,435 meter readers, utilities working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +12.4% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Meter Readers, Utilities Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $43,467 |
| Hourly median | $20.90 |
| 10th percentile | $29,526 |
| 25th percentile | $36,496 |
| 75th percentile | $50,437 |
| 90th percentile | $57,407 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Meter Readers, Utilities Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $87,610 |
| Nebraska | $84,730 |
| California | $78,970 |
| Illinois | $78,620 |
| Nevada | $71,600 |
| New York | $69,050 |
| Washington | $67,240 |
| Minnesota | $66,210 |
| Montana | $66,160 |
| Oregon | $61,820 |
| Maine | $61,520 |
| West Virginia | $60,230 |
| Colorado | $60,110 |
| Wyoming | $59,870 |
| Connecticut | $58,710 |
| Iowa | $58,600 |
| Michigan | $57,610 |
| Maryland | $57,000 |
| New Jersey | $56,670 |
| Vermont | $56,590 |
| New Hampshire | $56,240 |
| Massachusetts | $55,820 |
| Delaware | $54,540 |
| Utah | $53,650 |
| Indiana | $52,070 |
| Hawaii | $50,400 |
| Missouri | $49,570 |
| South Dakota | $48,800 |
| Rhode Island | $48,370 |
| Arizona | $47,980 |
| Alabama | $47,470 |
| South Carolina | $47,200 |
| Ohio | $46,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,840 |
| Virginia | $45,370 |
| Kentucky | $44,220 |
| Georgia | $44,180 |
| Florida | $44,120 |
| New Mexico | $40,140 |
| Texas | $40,050 |
| North Carolina | $39,720 |
| Tennessee | $38,450 |
| Mississippi | $38,240 |
| Oklahoma | $37,820 |
| Louisiana | $37,190 |
| North Dakota | $36,330 |
| Arkansas | $34,830 |
Where Meter Readers, Utilities Earn the Most
Pay for meter readers, utilities differ across the country. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $73,145 | 8.2% | 0.55 |
| Great Lakes | $58,655 | 16.7% | 1.62 |
| Middle Atlantic | $56,693 | 17.1% | 1.40 |
| New England | $56,193 | 3.4% | 0.76 |
| Rocky Mountains | $48,695 | 2.7% | 0.79 |
| Plains States | $47,123 | 5.7% | 0.93 |
| Southeast | $43,113 | 33.6% | 1.91 |
| Southwest | $41,479 | 12.7% | 1.31 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | CA | $99,840 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $99,350 | 160 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $95,330 | 40 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | NE | $84,780 | 70 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $79,210 | 420 |
| Reno, NV | NV | $77,780 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | CA | $76,380 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $73,690 | 210 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of meter readers, utilities are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Utilities | 6,940 | $64,090 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 2,650 | $44,880 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 280 | $60,780 |
| Construction | 130 | $40,380 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 110 | $44,720 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 30 | $98,850 |
Meter Readers, Utilities work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for meter readers, utilities tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How to Become Meter Readers, Utilities
Typical meter readers, utilities positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
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Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities).
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