Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between meter technicians and testers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tester has an average salary of $65,202, which is higher than the $42,393 average annual salary of a meter technician.
The top three skills for a meter technician include water meters, gas meters and troubleshoot. The most important skills for a tester are java, test results, and web application.
| Meter Technician | Tester | |
| Yearly salary | $42,393 | $65,202 |
| Hourly rate | $20.38 | $31.35 |
| Growth rate | 1% | - |
| Number of jobs | 23,912 | 52,595 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | 4 |
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. They may also handle and investigate issues, respond to high bill complaints, inspect systems to identify any damages, troubleshoot problems, and perform repairs or replacements as necessary.
The role of technical testers is to test computer software for defects, bug errors, or any issues that may come across by an end-user. They mainly conduct product testing and prepare reports about any problems or recommendations for improvements. Other responsibilities include reviewing test plans, assessing and analyzing product specifications and requirements, and mapping out testing strategy. Technical testers also frame the test environments or support network management staff and system administrators. Qualifications for this position include knowledge of the database or structured query language, proficiency in Linux commands, and proficiency in defect tracking tools.
Meter technicians and testers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Meter Technician | Tester | |
| Average salary | $42,393 | $65,202 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $64,000 | Between $42,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bremerton, WA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Maryland |
| Best paying company | EOG Resources | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Telecommunication |
There are a few differences between a meter technician and a tester in terms of educational background:
| Meter Technician | Tester | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Science |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between meter technicians' and testers' demographics:
| Meter Technician | Tester | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.7% Female, 11.3% | Male, 63.0% Female, 37.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 1.6% White, 72.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 11% |