Meter readers, utilities
SOC Code: 43-5041
Meter readers, utilities carries a 42% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $49,180 and -12.0% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 20,100 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 42% AI exposure, Meter readers, utilities sits 5 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 75% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
22/100
Meter readers, utilities, weighted across 3 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage F $49,180
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth F -12.0%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) F 42% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Meter readers, utilities in the High band.
Credential × growth standing
Open entry on a declining BLS line
Typical entry is HS / some college (333/832) while growth is Declining (111/832). This is the crowded high-risk corner of the map - automation and headcount pressure compound without a degree moat.
Where Meter readers, utilities sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Meter readers, utilities sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
42% Around the middle lower than 25% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Meter readers, utilities vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Meter readers, utilities is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Meter readers, utilities's High automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 43-5041) code, with the wage figure cross-validated against the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 survey. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Meter readers, utilities be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Meter readers, utilities. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.
- 2. Upload into office computers all information collected on hand-held computers during meter rounds, or return route books or hand-held computers to business offices so that data can be compiled.
- 3. Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
- 4. Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
- 5. Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
- 6. Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.
- 7. Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible.
- 8. Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations.
- 9. Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
- 10. Update client address and meter location information.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Service Orientation
- Time Management
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
Knowledge Areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- Building and Construction
- Transportation
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Meter readers, utilities?
Meter readers, utilities has an AI exposure score of 42%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Meter readers, utilities?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Meter readers, utilities is projected to decline by 12.0% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 20,100 workers.
What skills are needed for Meter readers, utilities?
Key skills for Meter readers, utilities include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is High school diploma or equivalent.
How much do Meter readers, utilities earn?
The median annual wage for Meter readers, utilities is $49,180, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Meter readers, utilities?
The typical entry-level education for Meter readers, utilities is High school diploma or equivalent. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Short-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Meter readers, utilities?
Meter readers, utilities roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Meter readers, utilities: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (42% here).
- Career/technical education teachers, postsecondary · AI exposure 42%
- Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance · AI exposure 42%
- Flight attendants · AI exposure 42%
- Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists · AI exposure 42%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (-12.0% here).
- Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic · growth -12.0%
- Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic · growth -12.1%
- Interviewers, except eligibility and loan · growth -11.6%
- Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic · growth -12.8%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
Showing 6 of 24 occupations with a comparable automation-risk profile.
What to do with this
Use Meter readers, utilities' numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Meter readers, utilities side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).