Meter Readers, Utilities Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for meter readers, utilities in the U.S. is $48,150 ($23.15 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $48,150
- Mean annual wage
- $55,380
- Median hourly wage
- $23.15
- Employment
- 19,430
19,430 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| 25th percentile | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Median (50th) | $48,150 | $23.15 |
| 75th percentile | $65,750 | $31.61 |
| 90th percentile | $85,930 | $41.31 |
Highest-paying states for meter readers, utilities
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $79,040 | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,450 | 860 |
| Nevada | $76,120 | 160 |
| Minnesota | $73,930 | 120 |
| Colorado | $66,550 | 150 |
| Washington | $65,900 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $64,180 | 140 |
| Oregon | $63,660 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $63,030 | 870 |
| Alaska | $62,690 | 40 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $37,120 median annual wage
- Arkansas: $37,340 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $37,570 median annual wage
- Oklahoma: $39,480 median annual wage
- Florida: $40,610 median annual wage
About this occupation
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
Typical tasks
- Report lost or broken keys.
- Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
- Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.
- 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.
- Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 49.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 29.6% |
| Associate's degree | 11.0% |
| Bachelor's degree | 7.0% |
| Master's degree | 1.2% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.3% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Office Clerks, General$45,010
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$47,540
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$69,500
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$50,670
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$45,930
- Receptionists and Information Clerks$38,010
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$45,260
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.