43 Series · SOC 43-5041
Meter Readers, Utilities Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $48,150
- Median / year
- $85,930
- Top 10% earn
- -12%
- Growth '23–'33
- 19,430
- US workers
Meter Readers, Utilities earn a median of $48,150 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $48,150, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,720 (10th percentile) to $85,930 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 19,430 US workers. California pays the most ($79,040), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Meter Readers, Utilities earn a median of $48,150, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 28% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Office and Administrative Support, it ranks #29 of 54 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 12% by 2033.
- $48,150
- Median annual wage
- Top 72%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #29 of 54
- in Office and Administrative Support
- 2.5×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: California at $79,040. Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Meter Readers, Utilities (SOC 43-5041) pays a national median of $48,150 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,720 at the 10th percentile to $85,930 at the 90th, with a mean of $55,380 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 19,430 Americans work in this occupation across 40 reporting states and 154 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a -12% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,300 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is High school diploma or equivalent and short-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. California pays the highest state median at $79,040, which is +64% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $100,480 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$48,150
per year
Median Hourly
$23.15/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$55,380
average
Employment
19,430
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Meter Readers, Utilities pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$48,150 Bottom 28% higher than 28% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 43-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Meter Readers, Utilities; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 43-series occupations with growth data, Meter Readers, Utilities sits on the slower-growing side at -12% growth and $48,150 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
-12%
Declining
Annual Openings
1,300
per year (projected)
Typical Education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-Job Training
Short-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.5/100K
Injury Rate
1/100
Danger Index
4.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Meter Readers, Utilities roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
- ▸ Update client address and meter location information.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$34,720
25th Percentile
$39,410
Median
$48,150
75th Percentile
$65,750
90th Percentile
$85,930
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 40 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $79,040 | +64% above national |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $78,450 | +63% above national |
| 3 | Nevada | $76,120 | +58% above national |
| 4 | Minnesota | $73,930 | +54% above national |
| 5 | Colorado | $66,550 | +38% above national |
| 6 | Washington | $65,900 | +37% above national |
| 7 | Connecticut | $64,180 | +33% above national |
| 8 | Oregon | $63,660 | +32% above national |
| 9 | New Jersey | $63,030 | +31% above national |
| 10 | Alaska | $62,690 | +30% above national |
| 11 | Wyoming | $61,470 | +28% above national |
| 12 | Iowa | $60,940 | +27% above national |
| 13 | Michigan | $60,870 | +26% above national |
| 14 | Illinois | $60,690 | +26% above national |
| 15 | West Virginia | $59,430 | +23% above national |
| 16 | Delaware | $58,240 | +21% above national |
| 17 | New York | $56,960 | +18% above national |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $56,830 | +18% above national |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $54,150 | +12% above national |
| 20 | Hawaii | $51,910 | +8% above national |
| 21 | Kansas | $49,870 | +4% above national |
| 22 | Indiana | $49,200 | +2% above national |
| 23 | Missouri | $49,150 | +2% above national |
| 24 | New Mexico | $48,530 | +1% above national |
| 25 | South Carolina | $47,850 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Ohio | $47,780 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Alabama | $45,710 | 5% below national |
| 28 | Tennessee | $45,210 | 6% below national |
| 29 | Arizona | $44,760 | 7% below national |
| 30 | Kentucky | $44,450 | 8% below national |
| 31 | Virginia | $44,020 | 9% below national |
| 32 | Georgia | $43,140 | 10% below national |
| 33 | Texas | $43,030 | 11% below national |
| 34 | North Carolina | $41,830 | 13% below national |
| 35 | Florida | $40,610 | 16% below national |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $39,480 | 18% below national |
| 37 | Louisiana | $37,570 | 22% below national |
| 38 | Arkansas | $37,340 | 22% below national |
| 39 | Mississippi | $37,120 | 23% below national |
| 40 | Puerto Rico | $30,440 | 37% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 154 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $100,480 | +109% above national |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $89,460 | +86% above national |
| 3 | Omaha, NE-IA | $87,320 | +81% above national |
| 4 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $83,350 | +73% above national |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $82,420 | +71% above national |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $80,180 | +67% above national |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | $78,290 | +63% above national |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $77,660 | +61% above national |
| 9 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $75,830 | +57% above national |
| 10 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,140 | +56% above national |
| 11 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $75,020 | +56% above national |
| 12 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $74,030 | +54% above national |
| 13 | Green Bay, WI | $69,070 | +43% above national |
| 14 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $67,130 | +39% above national |
| 15 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $67,090 | +39% above national |
| 16 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $66,930 | +39% above national |
| 17 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $66,870 | +39% above national |
| 18 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $65,600 | +36% above national |
| 19 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $64,750 | +34% above national |
| 20 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $64,670 | +34% above national |
| 21 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $63,150 | +31% above national |
| 22 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $63,040 | +31% above national |
| 23 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $61,910 | +29% above national |
| 24 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $61,830 | +28% above national |
| 25 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $61,680 | +28% above national |
| 26 | Morgantown, WV | $60,530 | +26% above national |
| 27 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $58,910 | +22% above national |
| 28 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $58,500 | +21% above national |
| 29 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $58,270 | +21% above national |
| 30 | Ogden, UT | $58,180 | +21% above national |
| 31 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $57,090 | +19% above national |
| 32 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $56,950 | +18% above national |
| 33 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $56,860 | +18% above national |
| 34 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $56,830 | +18% above national |
| 35 | Jacksonville, FL | $55,180 | +15% above national |
| 36 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $54,310 | +13% above national |
| 37 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $54,160 | +12% above national |
| 38 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $53,620 | +11% above national |
| 39 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $52,730 | +10% above national |
| 40 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $51,720 | +7% above national |
| 41 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $51,220 | +6% above national |
| 42 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $50,810 | +6% above national |
| 43 | Vineland, NJ | $50,750 | +5% above national |
| 44 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $50,700 | +5% above national |
| 45 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $50,610 | +5% above national |
| 46 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $50,570 | +5% above national |
| 47 | Columbus, GA-AL | $50,050 | +4% above national |
| 48 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $49,870 | +4% above national |
| 49 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $49,660 | +3% above national |
| 50 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $49,410 | +3% above national |
| 51 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $49,330 | +2% above national |
| 52 | Birmingham, AL | $49,110 | +2% above national |
| 53 | Columbia, MO | $49,020 | +2% above national |
| 54 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $48,790 | +1% above national |
| 55 | Worcester, MA | $48,740 | +1% above national |
| 56 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $48,480 | +1% above national |
| 57 | Jackson, TN | $47,870 | 1% below national |
| 58 | Columbus, OH | $47,430 | 1% below national |
| 59 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $47,160 | 2% below national |
| 60 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $47,100 | 2% below national |
| 61 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $46,960 | 2% below national |
| 62 | Cleveland, TN | $46,560 | 3% below national |
| 63 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $46,430 | 4% below national |
| 64 | Tulsa, OK | $46,360 | 4% below national |
| 65 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $46,220 | 4% below national |
| 66 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $46,200 | 4% below national |
| 67 | Huntsville, AL | $46,190 | 4% below national |
| 68 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $45,980 | 5% below national |
| 69 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $45,760 | 5% below national |
| 70 | Rochester, NY | $45,430 | 6% below national |
| 71 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $45,260 | 6% below national |
| 72 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $45,210 | 6% below national |
| 73 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $44,890 | 7% below national |
| 74 | Akron, OH | $44,840 | 7% below national |
| 75 | Toledo, OH | $44,790 | 7% below national |
| 76 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $44,770 | 7% below national |
| 77 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $44,750 | 7% below national |
| 78 | Knoxville, TN | $44,700 | 7% below national |
| 79 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $44,670 | 7% below national |
| 80 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $44,470 | 8% below national |
| 81 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $44,450 | 8% below national |
| 82 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $44,280 | 8% below national |
| 83 | Winston-Salem, NC | $44,020 | 9% below national |
| 84 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $43,750 | 9% below national |
| 85 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $43,740 | 9% below national |
| 86 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,650 | 9% below national |
| 87 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $43,360 | 10% below national |
| 88 | Columbia, SC | $43,270 | 10% below national |
| 89 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $43,140 | 10% below national |
| 90 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $42,970 | 11% below national |
| 91 | Lafayette, LA | $42,850 | 11% below national |
| 92 | Bowling Green, KY | $42,750 | 11% below national |
| 93 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $42,560 | 12% below national |
| 94 | Fargo, ND-MN | $42,340 | 12% below national |
| 95 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $42,300 | 12% below national |
| 96 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $42,300 | 12% below national |
| 97 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $42,280 | 12% below national |
| 98 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $42,060 | 13% below national |
| 99 | Richmond, VA | $41,890 | 13% below national |
| 100 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $41,550 | 14% below national |
| 101 | Albuquerque, NM | $41,530 | 14% below national |
| 102 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $41,410 | 14% below national |
| 103 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $41,210 | 14% below national |
| 104 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $40,980 | 15% below national |
| 105 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $40,780 | 15% below national |
| 106 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $40,730 | 15% below national |
| 107 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $40,700 | 15% below national |
| 108 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $40,500 | 16% below national |
| 109 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $40,290 | 16% below national |
| 110 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $40,180 | 17% below national |
| 111 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $40,100 | 17% below national |
| 112 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $40,060 | 17% below national |
| 113 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $39,880 | 17% below national |
| 114 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $39,790 | 17% below national |
| 115 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $39,520 | 18% below national |
| 116 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $39,500 | 18% below national |
| 117 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $39,490 | 18% below national |
| 118 | Oklahoma City, OK | $39,460 | 18% below national |
| 119 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $39,460 | 18% below national |
| 120 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $39,400 | 18% below national |
| 121 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $39,370 | 18% below national |
| 122 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $39,360 | 18% below national |
| 123 | York-Hanover, PA | $39,310 | 18% below national |
| 124 | El Paso, TX | $39,260 | 18% below national |
| 125 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $39,210 | 19% below national |
| 126 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $39,110 | 19% below national |
| 127 | Johnson City, TN | $39,090 | 19% below national |
| 128 | Jackson, MS | $38,980 | 19% below national |
| 129 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $38,730 | 20% below national |
| 130 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $38,690 | 20% below national |
| 131 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $38,430 | 20% below national |
| 132 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $38,280 | 20% below national |
| 133 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $37,940 | 21% below national |
| 134 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $37,900 | 21% below national |
| 135 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $37,660 | 22% below national |
| 136 | Wilmington, NC | $37,630 | 22% below national |
| 137 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $37,520 | 22% below national |
| 138 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $37,420 | 22% below national |
| 139 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,340 | 22% below national |
| 140 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,340 | 22% below national |
| 141 | Springfield, MO | $37,000 | 23% below national |
| 142 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $36,930 | 23% below national |
| 143 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,110 | 25% below national |
| 144 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $35,760 | 26% below national |
| 145 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $35,500 | 26% below national |
| 146 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $35,420 | 26% below national |
| 147 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $35,280 | 27% below national |
| 148 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $34,410 | 29% below national |
| 149 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $33,800 | 30% below national |
| 150 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $32,210 | 33% below national |
| 151 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $31,750 | 34% below national |
| 152 | Bloomington, IN | $31,370 | 35% below national |
| 153 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $31,190 | 35% below national |
| 154 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $30,020 | 38% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 43 (office and administrative support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Meter Readers, Utilities pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $65,750/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: California leads at $79,040/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.