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Job title · SOC 43-5041

Utility Meter Reader

Also known as: meter reader

01

Overview

Sourced

Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.

O*NET definition of Meter Readers, Utilities (SOC 43-5041) · Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed.

9,370
in government (SOC 43-5041)
48%
of this occupation works for government
$46,030
median pay in government
Local
levels of government

Titles employers use

Meter ReaderMeter Technician (Meter Tech)Water Meter ReaderWater Use InspectorField Technician (Field Tech)Meter Reading ClerkMeter Service Technician (Meter Service Tech)Meter Service WorkerUtility Service WorkerWater Inspector
How people usually get in Editorial
application. Requirements vary by employer; each employer page will list its exact rules.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.

02

Requirements

Sourced
Typical entry requirements (BLS, SOC 43-5041)
Education needed to enter
High school diploma or equivalent
Related work experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training

Education workers say the job requires

High School Diploma or the equivalent
94%
Post-Secondary Certificate
2%
Some College Courses
2%
Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree
2%
Master's Degree
0%

Share of surveyed workers in Meter Readers, Utilities (SOC 43-5041) naming each level as required to be hired, 18 respondents, O*NET survey August 2026. Each employer sets its own minimum.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4); U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

04

Academy and training

Sourced
Training to become competent (BLS)
SOC 43-5041
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation level (O*NET)
Job zone
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.

06

Promotion ladder

Editorial

Seniority steps: single title × seniority steps; growth via steps, overtime, bidding (bus operator, sanitation, dispatcher). Typical structure for a single title with seniority steps; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.

  1. Trainee / probationary
  2. Steps to top rate
  3. Lead / trainer
  4. Supervisor
  5. Manager

Source: GovJobsWiki job taxonomy v1 (research round R240) (editorial).

07

Pay

Sourced
Federal
Not published
State
Not published
Local
$46,010
All government
$46,030
Private sector
$51,490

Median annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.

Employer typeWorkers10th pct.25thMedian75th90th
Local9,360$32,630$38,170$46,010$61,150$78,470
All government9,370$32,630$38,170$46,030$61,150$78,470
Private sector10,060$36,820$41,480$51,490$75,690$95,450

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

08

Schedule

Sourced
Work schedule
Regular
89%
Irregular
11%
Seasonal
0%
Typical work week
Less than 40 hours
0%

Share of surveyed workers in the occupation (O*NET work context, August 2026). Shift patterns and differentials depend on the employer.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

12

Day-to-day work

Sourced
  1. Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.4.5
  2. 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.4.4
  3. Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.4.4
  4. Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.4.3
  5. Install new or replace broken meters.4.3
  6. Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.4.3
  7. Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.4.2
  8. Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.4.1
  9. Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.4.0
  10. Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible.3.7

The 10 most important of 12 core tasks for Meter Readers, Utilities, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of August 2026.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.

13Derived
Custodian (schools & public buildings)
Same job family
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)
Same job family
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)
Same job family
Lineworker (public power utility)
Same job family
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker
Same job family
Public Works / Street Maintenance Worker
Same job family
Sanitation Worker / Refuse Collector
Same job family
Sewer / Collection System Worker
Same job family
16

By state

Sourced

Median annual wage for Meter Readers, Utilities (SOC 43-5041) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.

StateWorkers10th pct.Median90th pct.
California810$50,400$79,040$102,310
Pennsylvania860$39,310$78,450$99,940
Nevada160$36,000$76,120$99,790
Minnesota120$40,150$73,930$86,910
Colorado150$45,650$66,550$88,670
Washington390$42,300$65,900$106,330
Connecticut140$39,530$64,180$97,550
Oregon120$38,850$63,660$78,090
New Jersey870$48,660$63,030$91,710
Alaska40$30,520$62,690$91,470
Wyoming50$44,760$61,470$99,090
Iowa120$42,530$60,940$73,560
Michigan270$39,540$60,870$92,440
Illinois570$31,200$60,690$104,960
West Virginia280$36,650$59,430$86,880
Delaware30$43,520$58,240$95,330
New York930$39,630$56,960$108,190
Rhode Island40$44,880$56,830$67,750
Massachusetts300$43,280$54,150$90,530
Hawaii50$40,260$51,910$78,050
Kansas80$15,080$49,870$79,380
Indiana330$36,200$49,200$97,820
Missouri330$34,040$49,150$83,150
New Mexico350$39,490$48,530$64,920
South Carolina410$32,570$47,850$63,090
Ohio1,070$39,600$47,780$86,560
Alabama470$33,460$45,710$72,200
Tennessee860$30,280$45,210$71,850
Arizona360$38,170$44,760$66,030
Kentucky690$32,200$44,450$62,690
Virginia630$31,750$44,020$61,650
Georgia670$36,040$43,140$63,610
Texas1,360$31,030$43,030$60,360
North Carolina640$33,730$41,830$62,200
FloridaNot published$36,820$40,610$73,080
Oklahoma390$31,120$39,480$64,500
Louisiana500$23,840$37,570$50,150
Arkansas230$22,880$37,340$66,000
Mississippi600$21,600$37,120$61,380

39 states with published estimates.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Not yet collected

These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.

  • 03 Hiring process
    Ordered steps + typical timeline: application, written test (named), physical test (named), oral board, background, polygraph, psych, medical, eligibility list
    Not yet collected
  • 05 Probation
    Probation length and what ends it
    Not yet collected
  • 09 Benefits and pension
    Pension plan/tier and formula, retirement age/years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b), PSLF eligibility
    Not yet collected
  • 10 Union contracts
    Bargaining unit, union, current CBA (source link, effective dates)
    Not yet collected
  • 11 Transfers and lateral entry
    Lateral policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonus, inter-agency moves
    Not yet collected
  • 14 Exam practice
    Named exams → OpenExamPrep practice
    Not yet collected
  • 15 Employer directory
    L4 directory: every employer that hires this job, each with its own facet values
    Not yet collected