Meter Readers, Utilities salary in the U.S.
Meter Readers, Utilities in the U.S. earn a median of $48,150 a year ($23.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,930 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $55,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for meter readers, utilities in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,720 | $16.69 |
| 25th percentile | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Median | $48,150 | $23.15 |
| 75th percentile | $65,750 | $31.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,930 | $41.31 |
| Average (mean) | $55,380 | $26.63 |
Half of meter readers, utilities earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,012.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,006.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,851.92 |
| Weekly | $925.96 |
| Hourly | $23.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Meter Readers, Utilities salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $79,040 | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,450 | 860 |
| Nevada | $76,120 | 160 |
| Minnesota | $73,930 | 120 |
| Colorado | $66,550 | 150 |
| Washington | $65,900 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $64,180 | 140 |
| Oregon | $63,660 | 120 |
| New Jersey | $63,030 | 870 |
| Alaska | $62,690 | 40 |
| Wyoming | $61,470 | 50 |
| Iowa | $60,940 | 120 |
| Michigan | $60,870 | 270 |
| Illinois | $60,690 | 570 |
| West Virginia | $59,430 | 280 |
| Delaware | $58,240 | 30 |
| New York | $56,960 | 930 |
| Rhode Island | $56,830 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $54,150 | 300 |
| Hawaii | $51,910 | 50 |
| Kansas | $49,870 | 80 |
| Indiana | $49,200 | 330 |
| Missouri | $49,150 | 330 |
| New Mexico | $48,530 | 350 |
| South Carolina | $47,850 | 410 |
| Ohio | $47,780 | 1,070 |
| Alabama | $45,710 | 470 |
| Tennessee | $45,210 | 860 |
| Arizona | $44,760 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $44,450 | 690 |
| Virginia | $44,020 | 630 |
| Georgia | $43,140 | 670 |
| Texas | $43,030 | 1,360 |
| North Carolina | $41,830 | 640 |
| Florida | $40,610 | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $39,480 | 390 |
| Louisiana | $37,570 | 500 |
| Arkansas | $37,340 | 230 |
| Mississippi | $37,120 | 600 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,440 | 160 |
Best-paying metro areas for meter readers, utilities
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $100,480 | 140 |
| Reno, NV | $89,460 | 40 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $87,320 | 60 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $83,350 | 400 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $82,420 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $80,180 | 250 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $78,290 | 250 |
| Cleveland, OH | $77,660 | 90 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $75,830 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,140 | 210 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $75,020 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $74,030 | 180 |
| Green Bay, WI | $69,070 | 40 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $67,130 | 50 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $67,090 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most meter readers, utilities
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,110 | $63,040 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 400 | $83,350 |
| Columbus, OH | 390 | $47,430 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 380 | $42,280 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 310 | $43,140 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 310 | $40,100 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 300 | $50,810 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 270 | $44,670 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 260 | $44,280 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 250 | $80,180 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 250 | $78,290 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 210 | $54,160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 210 | $75,140 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 190 | $40,730 |
| Knoxville, TN | 180 | $44,700 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $45,260 | $21.76 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $59,650 | $28.68 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $60,550 | $29.11 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $50,340 | $24.20 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $58,470 | $28.11 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $53,040 | $25.50 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $52,260 | $25.13 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $62,130 | $29.87 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| Office Clerks, General | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $47,540 | $22.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $69,500 | $33.41 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 43-5041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a meter readers, utilities make in the U.S.?
The median salary for meter readers, utilities in the U.S. is $48,150 a year, or $23.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid meter readers, utilities make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of meter readers, utilities in the U.S. earn at least $85,930 a year. The top 25% earn $65,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for meter readers, utilities in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,720 a year, and a quarter of meter readers, utilities earn $39,410 or less.
How many meter readers, utilities work in the U.S.?
About 19,430 meter readers, utilities are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.