All About Utilities Meter Readers
Occupation Description Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
A Day in the Life of an Utilities Meter Reader
- Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.
- 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.
- Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
- Answer customers’ questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
- Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as an Utilities Meter Reader?
Utilities Meter Readers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Other Utilities Meter Reader Job Titles
- Water Inspector
- Fieldman
- Customer Field Representative
- Field Technician
- Meter Record Clerk
Job Opportunities for Utilities Meter Readers
In the United States, there were 34,800 jobs for Utilities Meter Reader in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Utilities Meter Reader. There will be an estimated 2,300 positions for Utilities Meter Reader per year.
The states with the most job growth for Utilities Meter Reader are Alaska, Nevada, and Utah. Watch out if you plan on working in Colorado, New Hampshire, or Wyoming. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for an Utilities Meter Reader
The salary for Utilities Meter Readers ranges between about $24,600 and $71,040 a year.
Utilities Meter Readers who work in Delaware, Massachusetts, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Utilities Meter Readers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,920 |
| Alaska | $59,040 |
| Arizona | $51,690 |
| Arkansas | $29,180 |
| California | $61,010 |
| Colorado | $60,130 |
| Connecticut | $59,240 |
| Delaware | $57,780 |
| Florida | $38,090 |
| Georgia | $37,480 |
| Hawaii | $49,500 |
| Idaho | $51,560 |
| Illinois | $53,110 |
| Indiana | $41,730 |
| Iowa | $46,680 |
| Kansas | $43,820 |
| Kentucky | $36,240 |
| Louisiana | $27,740 |
| Maine | $39,210 |
| Maryland | $44,510 |
| Massachusetts | $61,540 |
| Michigan | $43,320 |
| Minnesota | $54,190 |
| Mississippi | $30,260 |
| Missouri | $39,720 |
| Montana | $55,740 |
| Nebraska | $46,390 |
| Nevada | $58,920 |
| New Hampshire | $57,370 |
| New Mexico | $37,170 |
| New York | $59,670 |
| North Carolina | $41,160 |
| North Dakota | $49,560 |
| Ohio | $45,070 |
| Oklahoma | $36,380 |
| Oregon | $48,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,090 |
| South Carolina | $37,280 |
| Tennessee | $42,550 |
| Texas | $33,610 |
| Utah | $49,050 |
| Vermont | $55,670 |
| Virginia | $39,950 |
| Washington | $48,810 |
| West Virginia | $40,040 |
| Wisconsin | $56,730 |
| Wyoming | $49,770 |
What Tools & Technology do Utilities Meter Readers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Utilities Meter Readers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Windows
- Billing software
- Mapping software
How to Become an Utilities Meter Reader
What education or degrees do I need to become an Utilities Meter Reader?
What work experience do I need to become an Utilities Meter Reader?
Who Employs Utilities Meter Readers?
The table below shows the approximate number of Utilities Meter Readers employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Career changers with experience as an Utilities Meter Reader sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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