Office and administrative support
Meter readers, utilities
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
Median pay
$48,150
Growth to 2035
−10%
declining
Openings a year
1,400
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Meter readers, utilities
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Meter readers, utilities: 35% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
- Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
- Install new or replace broken meters.
- Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
- Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.
- Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
Also called: Field Technician (Field Tech) · Meter Reader · Meter Reading Clerk · Meter Service Technician (Meter Service Tech) · Meter Service Worker · Meter Technician (Meter Tech) · Utility Service Worker · Water Inspector
Outlook and AI
Meter readers, utilities held 19,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 17,600 by 2035 (−10%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as alternative remote meter reading technologies (e.g., AMR, AMI, and other smart systems) increasingly replace manual meter readings by automatically sending energy usage data.
Compare with
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- Meter readers, utilities vs. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Meter readers, utilities vs. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
- Meter readers, utilities vs. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Meter readers, utilities vs. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Meter readers, utilities vs. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners
- Meter readers, utilities vs. Power plant operator
- Meter readers, utilities vs. Calibration technologists and technicians