Meter Readers, Utilities salary in California
Meter Readers, Utilities in California earn a median of $79,040 a year ($38.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 810 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,310 for the top 10%. That is 64% higher than the national median of $48,150. California ranks 1st of 39 states for meter readers, utilities pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.04 meter readers, utilities per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.35). The average (mean) salary is $79,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for meter readers, utilities in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,400 | $24.23 |
| 25th percentile | $62,540 | $30.07 |
| Median | $79,040 | $38.00 |
| 75th percentile | $99,180 | $47.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,310 | $49.19 |
| Average (mean) | $79,610 | $38.28 |
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 | $6,586.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,293.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,040 |
| Weekly | $1,520 |
| Hourly | $38.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Meter Readers, Utilities salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $100,480 | 140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $82,420 | 60 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $75,830 | 130 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,140 | 210 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $66,870 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for meter readers, utilities
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $79,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,450 |
| Nevada | $76,120 |
| Minnesota | $73,930 |
| Colorado | $66,550 |
| Washington | $65,900 |
| Connecticut | $64,180 |
| Oregon | $63,660 |
| New Jersey | $63,030 |
| Alaska | $62,690 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | $46,520 | $22.36 |
| Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks | $63,000 | $30.29 |
| Postal Service Mail Carrier | $62,090 | $29.85 |
| Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | $52,350 | $25.17 |
| Cargo and Freight Agents | $57,690 | $27.73 |
| Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Public Safety Telecommunicator | $80,120 | $38.52 |
| Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping | $45,730 | $21.99 |
| Couriers and Messengers | $44,970 | $21.62 |
| Postal Service Clerk | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Office Clerks, General | $48,460 | $23.30 |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,560 | $23.83 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | $55,400 | $26.64 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $59,230 | $28.48 |
More: Office and Administrative Support Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for meter readers, utilities in California is $79,040 a year, or $38.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $102,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid meter readers, utilities make in California?
The top 10% of meter readers, utilities in California earn at least $102,310 a year. The top 25% earn $99,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for meter readers, utilities in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,400 a year, and a quarter of meter readers, utilities earn $62,540 or less.
How many meter readers, utilities work in California?
About 810 meter readers, utilities are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.