# Meter Readers, Utilities

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/meter-readers-utilities
- SOC code: 43-5041.00
- Career family: Office and administrative support
- Median annual pay: $48,150 (10th percentile $34,720, 90th percentile $85,930)
- Projected growth: Decline, -10.5%
- Openings a year: 1,400
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 65 |
| Investigative (I) | 25 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 19 |
| Enterprising (E) | 5 |
| Conventional (C) | 93 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 82/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 71/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 67/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 65/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 65/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 64/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 64/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 64/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 63/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 59/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Speaking, Active Listening, Operation and Control, Reading Comprehension, Time Management, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Computers and Electronics, Public Safety and Security, Mathematics, Administration and Management, Engineering and Technology, Mechanical, Physics, Law and Government, English Language

## Also called

Electric Meter Reader, Field Technician (Field Tech), Gas Meter Reader, Meter Installer, Meter Reader, Meter Reading Clerk, Meter Record Clerk, Meter Service Representative (Meter Service Rep), Meter Service Technician (Meter Service Tech), Meter Service Worker

## Related careers

- [Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/control-and-valve-installers-and-repairers-except-mechanical-door): $74,340 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronics-repairers-powerhouse-substation-and-relay): $103,020 median pay
- [Power Distributors and Dispatchers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/power-distributors-and-dispatchers): $106,730 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronics-repairers-commercial-and-industrial-equipment): $74,090 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronics-installers-and-repairers-transportation-equipment): $84,890 median pay
- [Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/inspectors-testers-sorters-samplers-and-weighers): $48,570 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.