Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2010

43-5041 Meter Readers, Utilities

Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
40,160 1.9 % $17.69 $36,800 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $10.26 $12.78 $16.74 $21.69 $27.59
Annual Wage (2) $21,340 $26,590 $34,820 $45,120 $57,380

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Local Government (OES Designation) 16,980 0.30 $16.49 $34,310
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 9,880 2.50 $19.65 $40,880
Natural Gas Distribution 5,510 5.09 $20.19 $42,000
Other Support Services 3,260 1.18 $14.95 $31,100
Water, Sewage and Other Systems 2,630 5.62 $16.54 $34,410

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Water, Sewage and Other Systems 2,630 5.62 $16.54 $34,410
Natural Gas Distribution 5,510 5.09 $20.19 $42,000
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 9,880 2.50 $19.65 $40,880
Other Support Services 3,260 1.18 $14.95 $31,100
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 150 0.58 $19.28 $40,100

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Natural Gas Distribution 5,510 5.09 $20.19 $42,000
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 9,880 2.50 $19.65 $40,880
Management of Companies and Enterprises 670 0.04 $19.34 $40,230
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 150 0.58 $19.28 $40,100
Utility System Construction 300 0.08 $17.19 $35,740

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 4,750 0.34 1.07 $22.85 $47,540
Texas 3,470 0.34 1.09 $14.30 $29,730
Georgia 2,130 0.57 1.80 $14.56 $30,280
Florida 2,110 0.30 0.94 $15.69 $32,630
New York 1,740 0.21 0.66 $21.01 $43,700




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Virginia 560 0.81 2.57 $15.89 $33,060
Louisiana 1,340 0.73 2.32 $14.47 $30,090
Idaho 420 0.71 2.23 $19.43 $40,410
Mississippi 640 0.60 1.90 $12.88 $26,790
Arkansas 680 0.60 1.89 $13.04 $27,120




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Massachusetts 680 0.22 0.69 $25.95 $53,980
Connecticut 180 0.11 0.36 $24.93 $51,850
New Jersey 1,160 0.31 0.98 $23.29 $48,450
California 4,750 0.34 1.07 $22.85 $47,540
Alaska 130 0.43 1.37 $22.79 $47,390

Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 1,240 0.56 1.78 $14.83 $30,850
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 1,130 0.23 0.72 $21.29 $44,280
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 960 0.25 0.80 $22.21 $46,200
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 810 0.48 1.52 $16.92 $35,190
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division 710 0.20 0.64 $18.99 $39,500
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 670 0.34 1.07 $14.58 $30,330
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 620 0.25 0.79 $15.70 $32,650
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA 580 0.47 1.49 $20.39 $42,410
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 580 0.51 1.61 $20.32 $42,260
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 460 0.28 0.89 $27.63 $57,480




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Alexandria, LA 80 1.34 4.24 $13.85 $28,810
Chattanooga, TN-GA 240 1.08 3.42 $14.45 $30,070
Monroe, LA 80 1.06 3.35 $12.40 $25,800
Longview, TX 90 1.00 3.17 $14.07 $29,270
Owensboro, KY 40 0.92 2.91 $16.15 $33,590
Jackson, TN 50 0.91 2.88 $23.84 $49,580
Merced, CA 50 0.79 2.51 $26.14 $54,370
Lake Charles, LA 70 0.75 2.37 $15.90 $33,080
Boise City-Nampa, ID 190 0.74 2.35 $19.95 $41,500
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA 130 0.74 2.35 $13.28 $27,630