Occupations · Office and Administrative Support
Meter Readers, Utilities
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 43-5041.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 71% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $69,810 | 1,320 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,010 | 490 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $79,210 | 420 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $45,830 | 310 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $63,310 | 280 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $44,630 | 270 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $56,040 | 260 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $45,710 | 260 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $41,240 | 250 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $54,540 | 220 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $40,860 | 220 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $59,500 | 220 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Report lost or broken keys.
- Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2016-07
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2016-07
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Dig dirt away from meters to take readings.
- Install new or replace broken meters.
O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.
Now listed 7
No longer listed 1
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| meter reader | 9623.1 | exact |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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