Meter Readers, Utilities: Job Description
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
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What Tasks Do Meter Readers, Utilities Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of meter readers, utilities span:
- 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.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective meter readers, utilities rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Meter Readers, Utilities 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
How Many Meter Readers, Utilities Are There?
The U.S. employs around 430,435 meter readers, utilities working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +12.4% over the projection horizon.
Meter Readers, Utilities Pay
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for meter readers, utilities differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Meter Readers, Utilities
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Meter Readers, Utilities
The largest employers 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:
Tech Stack
- 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)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for meter readers, utilities is shaped by 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
Education and Training
Entry-level 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.
Related Careers
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Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced 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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