The average salary for a meter reader in the United States is around $48,150 per year.
Avg Salary
Meter readers earn an average yearly salary of $48,150.
Wages typically start from $34,720 and go up to $85,930.
19% below national average Updated in 2025
Meter reader earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level meter reader earnings begin at:
$41.31 per hour
$85,930 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level meter reader earnings begin at:
$31.61 per hour
$65,750 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level meter reader earnings begin at:
$23.15 per hour
$48,150 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level meter reader earnings begin at:
$18.95 per hour
$39,410 per year
10th percentile
Starting level meter reader earnings begin at:
$16.69 per hour
$34,720 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Meter reader salary by state
| State Name | Average 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 |
| Montana | $62,060 |
| 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 |
| Vermont | $51,540 |
| Nebraska | $50,910 |
| Kansas | $49,870 |
| Indiana | $49,200 |
| Missouri | $49,150 |
| Utah | $49,000 |
| New Mexico | $48,530 |
| New Hampshire | $48,240 |
| Wisconsin | $48,210 |
| South Carolina | $47,850 |
| Ohio | $47,780 |
| Idaho | $47,680 |
| Maryland | $47,640 |
| South Dakota | $46,600 |
| 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 |
| North Dakota | $36,970 |
| Maine | $32,890 |
| Puerto Rico | $25,870 |
How do meter reader salaries compare to similar careers?
Meter readers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than landscapers but more than estheticians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Landscaper salary | $58K |
| Private detective salary | $51K |
| Funeral director salary | $55K |
| Precious metal worker salary | $53K |
| Ambulance dispatcher salary | $53K |
| Meter reader salary | $48K |
| Travel agent salary | $50K |
| Financial clerk salary | $51K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $50K |
| Esthetician salary | $45K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)