Meter reader
Also known as: water meter reader, electricity meter reader, billing information reader, metering data reader, billing information analyst, utility meter reader
About this occupation
Meter readers visit residential and business or industrial buildings and facilities in order to note down the readings of the meters which measure gas, water, electricity and other utility uses. They forward the results to the client and to the supplier.
Essential skills and knowledge
- recognise signs of corrosion
- inspect for unauthorised connections
- interpret traffic signals
- road traffic laws
- report utility meter readings
- read gas meter
- read electricity meter
- read water meter
- identify faults in utility meters
- mathematics
- operate GPS systems
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Meter Readers, Utilities (O*NET 43-5041.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- 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.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Realistic, Investigative
Top skills: Speaking, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Operation and Control
US median pay: US$48,150 a year (2025), 19,430 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.6)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
- Power Plant Operators
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.