How to hire a meter reader

How to hire a meter reader, step by step

Here's a step-by-step meter reader hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a meter reader job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new meter reader
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a meter reader do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your meter reader job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a meter reader for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a meter reader to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a meter reader that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of meter readers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Meter Reader	Description	Hourly rate
   Meter Reader		$12-41
   Meter Technician	A meter technician is in charge of installing and maintaining electric meters that measure the electricity consumption of houses and establishments. Part of their job is to travel to different sites and conduct prior assessments before installation, liaise with property owners or representatives, and maintain records of transactions... Show more	$12-30
   Reader	The duties of a reader depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. In the electric power industry, they are responsible for reading meters using tools and equipment to determine a household or establishment's utility bill... Show more	$12-50

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Gas Meters
   • Safety Procedures
   • Utility Meters
   • Meter Boxes
   • Billing Purposes
   • Customer Inquiries
   • Water Leaks
   • Customer Complaints
   • Service Orders
   • Customer Service Centers
   • Water Usage
   • Water Lines
   • Hand-Held Device
   • Shovels

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Replace old AMI meters to new AMR meters while recognizing safety procedure and reporting any problems to supervisor.
   • Don the PPE to remove old meters.
   • Train and supervise newly hire employees to read meters and install AMR devices.
   • Perform audits for Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance and other laws and regulations.
   • Install new meters for new, residential and commercial buildings and make GPS points.
   • Install, programme, troubleshoot, install raven radios in meters, daisy chain radios for multiple meters.

   More meter reader duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the meter reader job description is a good way to get more applicants. A meter reader salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a meter reader in Kansas may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level meter reader. Additionally, a meter reader with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average meter reader salary

   $46,504yearly

   $22.36 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level meter reader salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average meter reader salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$68,823	$33
   2	New York	$59,796	$29
   3	Connecticut	$55,575	$27
   4	Ohio	$51,981	$25
   5	Pennsylvania	$46,956	$23
   6	Washington	$46,717	$22
   7	New Mexico	$43,213	$21
   8	Florida	$40,183	$19
   9	Oklahoma	$39,954	$19
   10	Texas	$39,806	$19
   11	North Carolina	$38,403	$18
   12	Georgia	$37,753	$18
   13	Alabama	$28,257	$14

   Average meter reader salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Xcel Energy	$68,764	$33.06
   2	PNM Resources	$67,992	$32.69
   3	New Jersey Resources	$63,362	$30.46	1
   4	AVANGRID	$59,540	$28.63
   5	Chesapeake Utilities	$51,317	$24.67
   6	South Jersey Industries	$50,388	$24.23	1
   7	Select Source International	$49,592	$23.84
   8	City of Seattle	$48,521	$23.33
   9	Heath Consultants	$48,330	$23.24
   10	Inframark	$48,330	$23.24
   11	Broken Arrow Police Department	$46,886	$22.54
   12	Olameter	$45,089	$21.68
   13	System One	$42,945	$20.65
   14	California Water Service Group	$42,361	$20.37
   15	City of Roseville Michigan	$42,352	$20.36
   16	City of Georgetown	$42,306	$20.34
   17	City of Gainesville	$40,756	$19.59
   18	Suburban Propane	$40,640	$19.54	3
   19	Borough Of Chambersburg	$39,286	$18.89
   20	ACRT Services	$38,754	$18.63	5

4. Writing a meter reader job description

   A meter reader job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a meter reader job description:

   Meter reader job description example

   At Exelon, we've got a place for you!
   
   Join the nation's leading competitive energy provider, with one of the largest electricity generation portfolios and retail customer bases in the country. You will be part of a family of companies that strives for the highest standards of power generation, competitive energy sales, and energy delivery. Our team of outstanding professionals is focused on performance, thought leadership, innovation, and the power of ideas that come from a diverse and inclusive workforce.
   
   Exelon will provide you the tools and resources you need to design, build and enhance a successful career. We are also dedicated to motivating the success of our employees through competitive base salary, incentives, and health and retirement benefits.
   
   Join Exelon and share your passion at a forward-thinking Fortune 150 company. Establish yourself in a place where you can truly shine and create a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow. Energize your career at Exelon!
   
   Join our ComEd team of nearly 6,000 employees who are responsible for maintaining more than 70,000 miles of power lines that make up the electric transmission and distribution system in northern Illinois.
   
   Headquartered in Chicago, ComEd serves approximately 70 percent of Illinois'population, or 9 million residents.
   
   At ComEd, we are committed to be the best electric delivery and energy information company, and we are driven to continue to improve service to our customers.
   
   By joining our innovative team, you will help take the electric system into the future and meet customers'ever-expanding needs.
   
   These positions will require a no-tolerance probationary period, require on-time daily attendance without time-off or tardiness, and require participation into the local union and payment of union dues.
   
   Meter Reading duties include: reading residential, commercial and industrial meters and recording the meter registrations; reporting defects and irregular conditions in metering equipment; reporting changes in meter locations; resetting demand meters and sealing meters and metering equipment; detecting and reporting evidence of meter tampering; and interviewing customers to arrange for regular meter readings. Good written and verbal communication skills are required to interact with customers
   
   Meter Readers receive one week of paid training to occur in the day or evening, as assigned by ComEd. Employees begin their employment in reporting locations determined by ComEd. ComEd reserves the right to adjust or change according to business needs. Shifts will be during the day and may require weekends.
   
   Please note this is the main requisition and work locations can be assigned within: Chicago, North Suburbs, West Suburbs and South Suburbs across the entire ComEd territory with most of the anticipated openings to be in Chicago.
   
   Qualifications
   
   * Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
   * All candidates must pass an EEI pre-employment test prior to being considered as a candidate. CAST Test (Construction and Skilled Trade)
   * Must be able to work outdoors in wind, rain, sleet, cold, heat, snow, etc.; work in rural and urban areas and harsh surroundings including street activity, contact with insects and rodents and is exposed to attack from dogs;
   * Must be able to walk long distances (3 to 7 miles per day) and stand for a considerable amount of time every work day; ascend and descend ladders, ramps, walkways and stairs to reach meters wherever they are located which may include basements and attics;
   * Meter Readers work the day shift (Monday through Friday) with occasional mandatory Saturday work
   * A valid Drivers License with acceptable driving record is required and verified via background check
   * Safety is a priority and training will be provided. All offers of employment are contingent upon passing a Background Check and Drug Screen test

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find meter readers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any meter readers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level meter readers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your meter reader job on Zippia to find and recruit meter reader candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with meter reader candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new meter reader

   Once you've decided on a perfect meter reader candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new meter reader. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a meter reader?