Meter Readers, Utilities Salary
Office and Administrative Support Occupations · 19K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$48,150
Median hourly
$23
Average annual
$55,380
Typical range
$34,720–$85,930
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Meter Readers, Utilities is $48,150 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $23 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam..
Most earn between $34,720 and $85,930 a year. There are roughly 19K people employed as meter readers, utilities in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Meter Readers, Utilities.
- Hourly
- $23.15
- Daily
- $185
- Weekly
- $926
- Bi-weekly
- $1,852
- Monthly
- $4,013
- Annual
- $48,150
$48,150 a year is around the 50th percentile for Meter Readers, Utilitiess. The median is $48,150.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1California$79,040
- 2Pennsylvania$78,450
- 3Nevada$76,120
- 4Minnesota$73,930
- 5Colorado$66,550
- 6Washington$65,900
- 7Connecticut$64,180
- 8Oregon$63,660
- 9New Jersey$63,030
- 10Alaska$62,690
- 11Wyoming$61,470
- 12Iowa$60,940
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$100,480
- 2Reno, NV$89,460
- 3Omaha, NE-IA$87,320
- 4Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$83,350
- 5Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$82,420
- 6Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$80,180
- 7Pittsburgh, PA$78,290
- 8Cleveland, OH$77,660
- 9Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$75,830
- 10Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$75,140
- 11Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$75,020
- 12Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$74,030
Related job titles
Employers advertise Meter Readers, Utilities roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$74,340
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers$106,730
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$103,020
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$74,090
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment$84,890
- Power Plant Operators$102,040
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians$67,820
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,570
What a Meter Readers, Utilities does
- 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.
- Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
- 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.
- Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.
- Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Meter Readers, Utilities make?
- The median annual wage for Meter Readers, Utilities is $48,150 ($23 per hour). Pay ranges from about $34,720 at the 10th percentile to $85,930 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Meter Readers, Utilities?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $55,380, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Meter Readers, Utilitiess the most?
- California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $79,040.
- Is Meter Readers, Utilities a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 19K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Meter Readers, Utilities do?
- 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.; Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.; Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs..