How much does a meter reader make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $23.15 an hour or $4,013 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.15
- Average (mean)
- $55,380
- Jobs
- 19,430
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,720 | $16.69 | |
| 25th | $39,410 | $18.95 | |
| Median | $48,150 | $23.15 | |
| 75th | $65,750 | $31.61 | |
| 90th | $85,930 | $41.31 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| 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 |
| Wyoming | $61,470 |
| Iowa | $60,940 |
| Michigan | $60,870 |
| Illinois | $60,690 |
| West Virginia | $59,430 |
| Delaware | $58,240 |
| New York | $56,960 |
| Rhode Island | $56,830 |
| Massachusetts | $54,150 |
| Hawaii | $51,910 |
| Kansas | $49,870 |
| Indiana | $49,200 |
| Missouri | $49,150 |
| New Mexico | $48,530 |
| South Carolina | $47,850 |
| Ohio | $47,780 |
| Alabama | $45,710 |
| Tennessee | $45,210 |
| Arizona | $44,760 |
| Kentucky | $44,450 |
| Virginia | $44,020 |
| Georgia | $43,140 |
| Texas | $43,030 |
| North Carolina | $41,830 |
| Florida | $40,610 |
| Oklahoma | $39,480 |
| Louisiana | $37,570 |
| Arkansas | $37,340 |
| Mississippi | $37,120 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $100,500 |
| Reno, NV | $89,460 |
| Omaha, NE | $87,320 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $83,350 |
| Sacramento, CA | $82,420 |
| Chicago, IL | $80,180 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $78,290 |
| Cleveland, OH | $77,660 |
| Riverside, CA | $75,830 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $75,140 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $75,020 |
| Seattle, WA | $74,030 |
| Green Bay, WI | $69,070 |
| Hartford, CT | $67,130 |
| Denver, CO | $67,090 |
In other countries
Meter Reader belongs to the international group "Meter readers and vending-machine collectors".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Cargo and Freight Agent$52,260
- Courier and Messenger$39,200
- Public Safety Telecommunicator$53,040
- Dispatcher$50,340
- Postal Service Clerk$62,130
- Postal Service Mail Carrier$60,550
- Postal Service Mail Sorter$58,470
- Production$59,650
- Shipping$45,260
Frequently asked questions
How much does a meter reader make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $23.15 ($48,150 a year).
How much does a meter reader make a month?
About $4,013 a month before tax, based on a median of $48,150 a year.
How much does a meter reader make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,720 or less a year ($16.69 an hour); the top 10% make $85,930 or more.
Which state pays meter readers the most?
California, with a median of $79,040 a year, followed by Pennsylvania ($78,450) and Nevada ($76,120).
Which city pays meter readers the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $100,500 a year.
How many meter readers are there in the United States?
About 19,430 people work as meter readers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.