Meter readers, utilities salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,150 | $23.15 |
| Mean (average) | $55,380 | $26.63 |
| 90th percentile | $85,930 | $41.31 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Meter readers, utilities pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 46 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $45,710 | $33,460 | $72,200 | 470 | 1.77 |
| Alaska | $62,690 | $30,520 | $91,470 | 40 | 0.91 |
| Arizona | $44,760 | $38,170 | $66,030 | 360 | 0.9 |
| Arkansas | $37,340 | $22,880 | $66,000 | 230 | 1.41 |
| California | $79,040 | $50,400 | $102,310 | 810 | 0.35 |
| Colorado | $66,550 | $45,650 | $88,670 | 150 | 0.43 |
| Connecticut | $64,180 | $39,530 | $97,550 | 140 | 0.64 |
| Delaware | $58,240 | $43,520 | $95,330 | 30 | 0.56 |
| Florida | $40,610 | $36,820 | $73,080 | ||
| Georgia | $43,140 | $36,040 | $63,610 | 670 | 1.1 |
| Hawaii | $51,910 | $40,260 | $78,050 | 50 | 0.62 |
| Idaho | Data unavailable | 70 | 0.64 | ||
| Illinois | $60,690 | $31,200 | $104,960 | 570 | 0.75 |
| Indiana | $49,200 | $36,200 | $97,820 | 330 | 0.83 |
| Iowa | $60,940 | $42,530 | $73,560 | 120 | 0.63 |
| Kansas | $49,870 | $15,080 | $79,380 | 80 | 0.43 |
| Kentucky | $44,450 | $32,200 | $62,690 | 690 | 2.76 |
| Louisiana | $37,570 | $23,840 | $50,150 | 500 | 2.07 |
| Maryland | Data unavailable | 320 | 0.94 | ||
| Massachusetts | $54,150 | $43,280 | $90,530 | 300 | 0.66 |
| Michigan | $60,870 | $39,540 | $92,440 | 270 | 0.5 |
| Minnesota | $73,930 | $40,150 | $86,910 | 120 | 0.33 |
| Mississippi | $37,120 | $21,600 | $61,380 | 600 | 4.1 |
| Missouri | $49,150 | $34,040 | $83,150 | 330 | 0.9 |
| Nebraska | Data unavailable | 90 | 0.72 | ||
| Nevada | $76,120 | $36,000 | $99,790 | 160 | 0.84 |
| New Hampshire | Data unavailable | 40 | 0.48 | ||
| New Jersey | $63,030 | $48,660 | $91,710 | 870 | 1.62 |
| New Mexico | $48,530 | $39,490 | $64,920 | 350 | 3.18 |
| New York | $56,960 | $39,630 | $108,190 | 930 | 0.76 |
| North Carolina | $41,830 | $33,730 | $62,200 | 640 | 1.04 |
| Ohio | $47,780 | $39,600 | $86,560 | 1,070 | 1.55 |
| Oklahoma | $39,480 | $31,120 | $64,500 | 390 | 1.84 |
| Oregon | $63,660 | $38,850 | $78,090 | 120 | 0.5 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,450 | $39,310 | $99,940 | 860 | 1.13 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,440 | $22,070 | $39,680 | 160 | 1.34 |
| Rhode Island | $56,830 | $44,880 | $67,750 | 40 | 0.62 |
| South Carolina | $47,850 | $32,570 | $63,090 | 410 | 1.43 |
| Tennessee | $45,210 | $30,280 | $71,850 | 860 | 2.09 |
| Texas | $43,030 | $31,030 | $60,360 | 1,360 | 0.77 |
| Utah | Data unavailable | 280 | 1.29 | ||
| Virginia | $44,020 | $31,750 | $61,650 | 630 | 1.22 |
| Washington | $65,900 | $42,300 | $106,330 | 390 | 0.88 |
| West Virginia | $59,430 | $36,650 | $86,880 | 280 | 3.17 |
| Wisconsin | Data unavailable | 410 | 1.12 | ||
| Wyoming | $61,470 | $44,760 | $99,090 | 50 | 1.41 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for meter readers, utilities
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for meter readers, utilities
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
- Install new or replace broken meters.
- Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
- Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.
- Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Billing software
- Geographic information system GIS systems
- Graphing software
- Mapping software
- Meter reading software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Time Management, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Field Technician (Field Tech), Meter Reader, Meter Reading Clerk, Meter Service Technician (Meter Service Tech), Meter Service Worker, Meter Technician (Meter Tech), Utility Service Worker, Water Inspector, Water Meter Reader, Water Use Inspector.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do meter readers, utilities make?
The national median annual wage for meter readers, utilities was $48,150 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,720 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $85,930. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do meter readers, utilities need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is meter readers, utilities a growing career?
BLS projects employment of meter readers, utilities to change -10.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay meter readers, utilities the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($79,040), Pennsylvania ($78,450), Nevada ($76,120). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.