Meter Readers, Utilities earn a median of $48,150 per year ($23.15/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 10.5% through 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 43-5041
- Office and Administrative Support
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Utility Meter Reader in four numbers
- Median pay
- $48,150a year, or $23.15/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $86K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -10.5%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−10.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −10.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,40019,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202519.7K
- Projected 203517.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 19.7K Projected 2035 17.6K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Field Technician (Field Tech), Meter Reader, Meter Reading Clerk, Meter Service Technician (Meter Service Tech), Meter Service Worker, Meter Technician (Meter Tech).
Pay
How much do Meter Readers, Utilities make?
Every utility meter reader in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$48,150
Middle half earn $39,410 to $65,750
- 10th
- $34,720
- 25th
- $39,410
- 75th
- $65,750
- 90th
- $85,930
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,720 |
| 25th | $39,410 |
| Median | $48,150 |
| 75th | $65,750 |
| 90th | $85,930 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $48,150
- Median hourly wage
- $23.15/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $55,380
- People employed
- 19,430
Versus all US occupations
At $48,150, Meter Readers, Utilities earn 6% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $2,830 a year.
Versus office and administrative support occupations
The median is typical for the Office and Administrative Support group, where the middle occupation pays $49,230.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $85,930 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,720, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 18% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($79,040), but once local prices are taken into account Pennsylvania leads at $80,402 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Meter Readers, Utilities the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $79,040 | $71,387 | 810 |
| 2Pennsylvania | $78,450 | $80,402 | 860 |
| 3Nevada | $76,120 | $76,136 | 160 |
| 4Minnesota | $73,930 | $74,964 | 120 |
| 5Colorado | $66,550 | $64,579 | 150 |
| 6Washington | $65,900 | $61,581 | 390 |
| 7Connecticut | $64,180 | $61,944 | 140 |
| 8Oregon | $63,660 | $61,590 | 120 |
| 9New Jersey | $63,030 | $57,929 | 870 |
| 10Alaska | $62,690 | $61,245 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Utility Meter Reader a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -10.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Meter Readers, Utilities | −10.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Meter Readers, Utilities to change -10.5% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 2,100 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,400 openings are projected each year, 7.1% of the 19,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Utility Meter Reader
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does an Utility Meter Reader do?
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
- Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.
- Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
- Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
- Dig dirt away from meters to take readings.
- Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking3.0
- Critical Thinking3.0
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Active Listening2.9
- Monitoring2.6
- Active Learning2.5
- Writing2.4
- Mathematics2.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Active Listening | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.6 |
| Active Learning | 2.5 |
| Writing | 2.4 |
| Mathematics | 2.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.0
- Operation and Control2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Service Orientation2.8
- Complex Problem Solving2.6
- Judgment and Decision Making2.5
- Social Perceptiveness2.4
- Coordination2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Operation and Control | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 2.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 2.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 2.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.4 |
| Coordination | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Billing and invoicing software
- Charting software
- Data base reporting software
- Geographic information system
- Industrial control software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Utility Meter Reader?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Utility Meter Reader |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 7 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Conventional6.6
- Realistic4.9
- Investigative2.5
- Social2.1
- Enterprising1.3
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Utility Meter Reader
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More office and administrative support careers
Median annual pay, with meter readers, utilities highlighted
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$76,590
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$55,570
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk$50,670
- Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$50,610
- Utility Meter Reader$48,150
- Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- Teller$43,030
- Receptionist and Information Clerk$38,010
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant | $76,590 |
| Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant | $55,570 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerk | $50,670 |
| Human Resources Assistant, Except Payroll and Timekeeping | $50,610 |
| Utility Meter Reader | $48,150 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 |
| Teller | $43,030 |
| Receptionist and Information Clerk | $38,010 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Utility Meter Reader appears on
Questions
Utility Meter Reader: frequently asked questions
How much do Meter Readers, Utilities make?
Meter Readers, Utilities earn a median of $48,150 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $23.15/hr. The middle half earn between $39,410 and $65,750. The top 10% earn $85,930 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Utility Meter Reader?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Meter Readers, Utilities. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Utility Meter Reader a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 10.5% over 2025–2035, a loss of 2,100 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Utility Meter Reader do?
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam. A core O*NET task: verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Meter Readers, Utilities the most?
The highest state medians for Meter Readers, Utilities are California ($79,040), Pennsylvania ($78,450), Nevada ($76,120) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Pennsylvania moves to the top at $80,402.
What personality type suits an Utility Meter Reader?
O*NET scores Meter Readers, Utilities highest on the Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.