Meter Readers, Utilities

Government and Public AdministrationO*NET 43-5041.00United States

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

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $48,152
Projected change: −6.7%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 20.43K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What meter readers, utilities do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

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.
Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
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.
Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations.
Update client address and meter location information.
Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $34,715
25th percentile: $39,416
50th percentile: $48,152
75th percentile: $65,749
90th percentile: $85,925

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $48,152 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−6.7%projected to decline

202520,430 jobs

2035 projected19,055 jobs

1,375 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 71.1%
Some college: 17.3%
Associate degree: 8.7%
Bachelor's degree: 2.4%
Certificate: 0.5%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Meter Reading
Water Metering
Electric Meters
Billing
Hand Tools
Gas Meter Systems
Customer Communications Management
Underground Utilities
Good Driving Record
Water Distribution
Lifting Ability
Leak Detection And Repair
Collections
Surveying
Valves (Piping)
Plumbing
Data Entry
Construction
General Mathematics
Excavation

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
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.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Meter Readers511 postings
02Meter Technicians289 postings
03Make Ready Technicians280 postings
04Meter Installers186 postings
05Field Technicians82 postings
06Damage Prevention Specialists80 postings
07Utility Workers79 postings
08Water Meter Readers77 postings
09Utility Locators71 postings
10Water Distribution Operators71 postings
11Service Technicians65 postings
12Apprentices48 postings
13Electric Meter Technicians44 postings
14Meter Service Representatives42 postings
15Distribution Technicians33 postings
16Apprentice Technicians30 postings
17Locate Technicians30 postings
18Utility Service Workers28 postings
19Service Workers26 postings
20Processing Associates25 postings

Top employers

01Bermex280 postings
02Acrt218 postings
03Sparus Holdings60 postings
04Southern Company41 postings
05Hydrocorp40 postings
06The Salvation Army29 postings
07Ameren28 postings
08Atmos Energy28 postings
09Ohio Edison Company27 postings
10Peoples Gas System27 postings
11Golden State Water Company26 postings
12Scope Services24 postings
13National Grid Uk23 postings
14Utility Partners Of America23 postings
15Iberdrola20 postings
16Inframark18 postings
17Chesapeake Utilities Corporation17 postings
18Southwestern Public Service16 postings
19Ugi Utilities16 postings
20Avangrid15 postings

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