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Boston Career Explorer

Office and Administrative Support

Meter Readers, Utilities

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

Also called: Field Technician (Field Tech), Meter Reader, Meter Reading Clerk, Meter Service Technician (Meter Service Tech), Meter Service Worker, Meter Technician (Meter Tech)

Median pay in Greater Boston
$54,160
$26.04/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
210
Massachusetts 2024–2034
−7.4%
30 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$43,280$47,480$54,160$72,830$96,530

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.
  • 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.
  • Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
  • Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
  • Install new or replace broken meters.
  • Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure30 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 17
  • Language-model AIOE 17
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 57

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure is lower for this job, and observed AI use is little or none. The bigger change is smart meters that send readings automatically, which federal projections expect to cut the number of manual meter-reading jobs. Entering and uploading data could be sped up by software, while walking routes, checking odd readings, and installing or replacing meters still need a person on site.

Likely to change

  • Entering and uploading meter data
  • Compiling readings from routes

Still relies on people

  • Walking routes and reading meters on site
  • Installing or replacing broken meters

What federal projections say

“Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as alternative remote meter reading technologies (e.g., AMR, AMI, and other smart systems) increasingly replace manual meter readings by automatically sending energy usage data.”
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, factors affecting this job (U.S.)

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

    You already work with meters and record readings. Repairing valves, regulators, and hydrants builds on that, with much higher median pay.

    Pay difference
    +$41,360 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +4.8%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Maintenance and Repair Workers, General

    Installing and replacing meters is hands-on repair work. General maintenance uses those skills, with moderate-term on-the-job training and faster growth.

    Pay difference
    +$5,510 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.2%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Electricians

    Utility field experience and comfort around electrical equipment carry over. Electricians learn through an apprenticeship and have strong projected growth.

    Pay difference
    +$25,750 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +11.6%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

No college programs near Boston map to this job. Many people enter through on-the-job training or apprenticeship.

Talk to a career coach at the Office of Workforce Development about apprenticeships and City partner programs.

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

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