What Do Utilities Meter Reader Do?
Position Description Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
List of Utilities Meter Reader Job Duties
- Report lost or broken keys.
- Answer customers’ questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
- Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
- 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.
- Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
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Utilities Meter Reader Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Utilities Meter Readers say are important on the job.
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.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
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.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Types of Utilities Meter Reader
- Electric Meter Reader
- Utility Technician
- Meter Record Clerk
- Meter Reader
- Water Meter Reader
Utilities Meter Reader Job Outlook
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,300 job openings in this field each 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.
Utilities Meter Reader Salary
The typical yearly salary for Utilities Meter Readers is somewhere between $24,600 and $71,040.

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 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
Becoming an Utilities Meter Reader
What education is needed to be an Utilities Meter Reader?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Utilities Meter Reader?

Where do Utilities Meter Readers Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Utilities Meter Readers employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Those who work as an Utilities Meter Reader sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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