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
-2.1%
2024→2025
$85,930
Top 10% earn
-12%
Growth '24–'34
19,430
Estimated US jobs

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 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is California ($79,040).

43 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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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 2034.

$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.

Observed pay change

What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025

May 2019 → May 2025
  • The published national median for Meter Readers, Utilities moved from $42,280 in May 2019 to $48,150 in May 2025 (+13.9%).
  • Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
  • Meter Readers, Utilities sits -10.6 pp behind that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.

Meter Readers, Utilities (SOC 43-5041) has a national median of $48,150 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $34,720 to $85,930, and the published mean is $55,380. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 19,430 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 40 state or territory areas and 154 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $49,180 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $48,150 in May 2025, a fall of $1,030 (-2.1%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -12% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as declining relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 1,300 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns High school diploma or equivalent as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as short-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Office and Administrative Support Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.

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 highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $100,480. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.

BLS OEWS May 2025 19,430 jobs Median $48,150/yr

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

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000 and above: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $180,000+ every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

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.

Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
Band Count Share
$0–$20,000 0 US occupations 0%
$20,000–$40,000 98 US occupations 12%
$40,000–$60,000 (this entry) 298 US occupations 36%
$60,000–$80,000 209 US occupations 25%
$80,000–$100,000 82 US occupations 10%
$100,000–$120,000 58 US occupations 7%
$120,000–$140,000 32 US occupations 4%
$140,000–$160,000 14 US occupations 2%
$160,000–$180,000 9 US occupations 1%
$180,000 and above 25 US occupations 3%

$48,150 · 28th percentile of 825 US occupations

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. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $30000$40000$50000$60000$70000$80000 -20%-15%-10%-5%0%5%10% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage Customer Service Rep… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.5% · Median annual wage: $44770Office Clerks, General - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -6.7% · Median annual wage: $45010Secretaries and Admi… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.6% · Median annual wage: $47540First-Line Superviso… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.3% · Median annual wage: $69500Bookkeeping, Account… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.8% · Median annual wage: $50670Medical Secretaries … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 4.2% · Median annual wage: $45930Shipping, Receiving,… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -7.7% · Median annual wage: $45260Executive Secretarie… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.6% · Median annual wage: $76590Billing and Posting … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.4% · Median annual wage: $48500Production, Planning… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -1.8% · Median annual wage: $59650Tellers - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12.9% · Median annual wage: $43030Postal Service Mail … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.5% · Median annual wage: $60550Hotel, Motel, and Re… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3.7% · Median annual wage: $35070Insurance Claims and… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -3.7% · Median annual wage: $49230Dispatchers, Except … - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -0.9% · Median annual wage: $50340Office and Administr… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -7.8% · Median annual wage: $45670Court, Municipal, an… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 3% · Median annual wage: $48700Loan Interviewers an… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -2.3% · Median annual wage: $50020Bill and Account Col… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -10.5% · Median annual wage: $47030Legal Secretaries an… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -5.8% · Median annual wage: $55570Eligibility Intervie… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): 1% · Median annual wage: $54210Payroll and Timekeep… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -16.7% · Median annual wage: $58260Interviewers, Except… - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -11.6% · Median annual wage: $45920Meter Readers, Utilities - Projected growth 2024–2034 (%): -12% · Median annual wage: $48150
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.
Read the chart as text
  • Customer Service Rep…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.5%, Median annual wage $44770
  • Office Clerks, General: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -6.7%, Median annual wage $45010
  • Secretaries and Admi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $47540
  • First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.3%, Median annual wage $69500
  • Bookkeeping, Account…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.8%, Median annual wage $50670
  • Medical Secretaries …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $45930
  • Shipping, Receiving,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -7.7%, Median annual wage $45260
  • Executive Secretarie…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.6%, Median annual wage $76590
  • Billing and Posting …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.4%, Median annual wage $48500
  • Production, Planning…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -1.8%, Median annual wage $59650
  • Tellers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12.9%, Median annual wage $43030
  • Postal Service Mail …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.5%, Median annual wage $60550
  • Hotel, Motel, and Re…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.7%, Median annual wage $35070
  • Insurance Claims and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -3.7%, Median annual wage $49230
  • Dispatchers, Except …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.9%, Median annual wage $50340
  • Office and Administr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -7.8%, Median annual wage $45670
  • Court, Municipal, an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $48700
  • Loan Interviewers an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -2.3%, Median annual wage $50020
  • Bill and Account Col…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -10.5%, Median annual wage $47030
  • Legal Secretaries an…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -5.8%, Median annual wage $55570
  • Eligibility Intervie…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $54210
  • Payroll and Timekeep…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -16.7%, Median annual wage $58260
  • Interviewers, Except…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -11.6%, Median annual wage $45920
  • Meter Readers, Utilities: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -12%, Median annual wage $48150

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)

Employment Change

-2,400

20,100 (2024) → 17,700 (2034)

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 →
Group

Office and Administrative Support Occupations context

Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade

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

Reading Comprehension 3.0
Active Listening 3.0
Speaking 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Service Orientation 3.0
Time Management 3.0
Monitoring 2.9
Complex Problem Solving 2.9
Operations Monitoring 2.9
Operation and Control 2.9

Knowledge Areas

Customer and Personal Service 3.7
Public Safety and Security 3.5
English Language 3.4
Mathematics 3.1
Mechanical 2.9
Computers and Electronics 2.9
Administration and Management 2.6
Administrative 2.5
Building and Construction 2.3
Transportation 2.3

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

10th$34,720
25th$39,410
Median$48,150
75th$65,750
90th$85,930

Hourly Rate Distribution

10th$16.69
25th$18.95
Median$23.15
75th$31.61
90th$41.31

Meter Readers, Utilities pay history, 2015–2025

Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.

$35,000$40,000$45,000$50,000 20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 National median - 2015: $38,510National median - 2016: $38,940National median - 2017: $39,240National median - 2018: $40,360National median - 2019: $42,280National median - 2020: $41,940National median - 2021: $45,720National median - 2022: $44,760National median - 2023: $47,720National median - 2024: $49,180National median - 2025: $48,150$48,150
National median annual wage for Meter Readers, Utilities, May 2015 to May 2025 OEWS releases
Read the chart as text
Period National median
2015 $38,510
2016 $38,940
2017 $39,240
2018 $40,360
2019 $42,280
2020 $41,940
2021 $45,720
2022 $44,760
2023 $47,720
2024 $49,180
2025 $48,150

2015 median

$38,510

2025 median

$48,150

2019–2025 change (same SOC)

+$5,870 (+13.9%)

Avg/year (same SOC)

+2.2%

Published national median annual wage and estimated employment for Meter Readers, Utilities by OEWS release year
Release Median Change Estimated jobs
May 2015 $38,510 First banked release 34,970
May 2016 $38,940 +1.1% 34,070
May 2017 $39,240 +0.8% 33,860
May 2018 $40,360 +2.9% 33,570
May 2019 $42,280 Classification break 30,450
May 2020 $41,940 -0.8% 26,490
May 2021 $45,720 +9.0% 24,000
May 2022 $44,760 -2.1% 20,460
May 2023 $47,720 +6.6% 19,900
May 2024 $49,180 +3.1% 19,620
May 2025 $48,150 -2.1% 19,430

Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $38,510 in May 2015 to $48,150 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +2.2% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 30,450 in May 2019 to 19,430 in May 2025.

Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.

Salary by State

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

View all 103 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $63,040 +31% above national
20 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $61,910 +29% above national
21 Kansas City, MO-KS $61,830 +28% above national
22 Morgantown, WV $60,530 +26% above national
23 Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY $58,500 +21% above national
24 Ogden, UT $58,180 +21% above national
25 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $56,860 +18% above national
26 Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $56,830 +18% above national
27 Jacksonville, FL $55,180 +15% above national
28 St. Louis, MO-IL $54,310 +13% above national
29 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $54,160 +12% above national
30 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $51,220 +6% above national
31 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $50,810 +6% above national
32 Vineland, NJ $50,750 +5% above national
33 Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $50,700 +5% above national
34 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT $50,610 +5% above national
35 Charleston-North Charleston, SC $50,570 +5% above national
36 Columbus, GA-AL $50,050 +4% above national
37 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL $49,660 +3% above national
38 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $49,410 +3% above national
39 Birmingham, AL $49,110 +2% above national
40 Columbia, MO $49,020 +2% above national
41 Worcester, MA $48,740 +1% above national
42 Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC $48,480 +1% above national
43 Jackson, TN $47,870 1% below national
44 Columbus, OH $47,430 1% below national
45 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $47,160 2% below national
46 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $47,100 2% below national
47 Cleveland, TN $46,560 3% below national
48 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX $46,430 4% below national
49 Tulsa, OK $46,360 4% below national
50 Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC $46,220 4% below national
51 Huntsville, AL $46,190 4% below national
52 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $45,980 5% below national
53 Rochester, NY $45,430 6% below national
54 Clarksville, TN-KY $45,210 6% below national
55 Lexington-Fayette, KY $44,890 7% below national
56 Akron, OH $44,840 7% below national
57 Toledo, OH $44,790 7% below national
58 Wildwood-The Villages, FL $44,770 7% below national
59 Shreveport-Bossier City, LA $44,750 7% below national
60 Knoxville, TN $44,700 7% below national
61 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $44,670 7% below national
62 Raleigh-Cary, NC $44,470 8% below national
63 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $44,280 8% below national
64 Winston-Salem, NC $44,020 9% below national
65 Chattanooga, TN-GA $43,740 9% below national
66 Columbia, SC $43,270 10% below national
67 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $43,140 10% below national
68 San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $42,970 11% below national
69 Lafayette, LA $42,850 11% below national
70 Bowling Green, KY $42,750 11% below national
71 Greensboro-High Point, NC $42,560 12% below national
72 Fargo, ND-MN $42,340 12% below national
73 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $42,280 12% below national
74 Richmond, VA $41,890 13% below national
75 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH $41,550 14% below national
76 Albuquerque, NM $41,530 14% below national
77 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $41,410 14% below national
78 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA $40,780 15% below national
79 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL $40,730 15% below national
80 Tuscaloosa, AL $40,500 16% below national
81 Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR $40,290 16% below national
82 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $40,100 17% below national
83 Memphis, TN-MS-AR $39,880 17% below national
84 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL $39,520 18% below national
85 Oklahoma City, OK $39,460 18% below national
86 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $39,370 18% below national
87 York-Hanover, PA $39,310 18% below national
88 El Paso, TX $39,260 18% below national
89 Port St. Lucie, FL $39,210 19% below national
90 Johnson City, TN $39,090 19% below national
91 Jackson, MS $38,980 19% below national
92 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $38,730 20% below national
93 Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL $38,280 20% below national
94 Wilmington, NC $37,630 22% below national
95 Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL $37,520 22% below national
96 Springfield, MO $37,000 23% below national
97 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $35,760 26% below national
98 Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $35,420 26% below national
99 Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR $34,410 29% below national
100 New Orleans-Metairie, LA $33,800 30% below national
101 Bloomington, IN $31,370 35% below national
102 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX $31,190 35% below national
103 San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $30,020 38% below national

Same SOC major group

Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 43 (Office and Administrative Support Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.

Showing 5 of 53 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.

Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale

Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Office and Administrative Support Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($48,150 here) and reported employment (19,430 jobs here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Meter Readers, Utilities make?
The median annual salary for Meter Readers, Utilities is $48,150 ($23.15/hour). The salary range spans from $34,720 at the 10th percentile to $85,930 at the 90th percentile.
Where does Meter Readers, Utilities pay rank nationally?
At a published national median of $48,150, Meter Readers, Utilities pay is higher than 28% of the 825 detailed occupations with a published BLS annual median in the May 2025 OEWS release. This compares occupation-level medians, not individual workers, job offers, or this occupation's own worker pay-percentile range.
What state pays Meter Readers, Utilities the most?
California pays the highest median salary for Meter Readers, Utilities at $79,040/year, which is +64% above the national median.
What education do Meter Readers, Utilities need?
BLS assigns Meter Readers, Utilities to High school diploma or equivalent for typical education needed for entry. Typical on-the-job training assignment: Short-term on-the-job training.
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Meter Readers, Utilities?
BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for Meter Readers, Utilities in this release. WageDex shows the Office and Administrative Support Occupations SOC-group rate only as broad context and does not rank it as this occupation's measured rate.
Is Meter Readers, Utilities a good career?
Employment for Meter Readers, Utilities is projected to decline 12% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 1,300 openings are projected each year.
How does Meter Readers, Utilities pay vary by state?
Meter Readers, Utilities salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is California at $79,040/year, while Puerto Rico pays the least at $30,440/year. BLS data covers 40 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Meter Readers, Utilities?
The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $100,480/year. BLS reports a median for 103 metropolitan areas for this occupation. The ranking does not establish why values differ.

What to do with this data

How to use Meter Readers, Utilities pay figures in a real decision

  • The 75th-percentile wage is about $65,750/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. 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.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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.