How to hire meter readers, utilities
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers. • Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals. • Install new or replace broken meters. • Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters. • 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. • Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations. • Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong critical thinking and speaking skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service, computers and electronics and public safety and security • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $23.15 an hour ($48,150 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for meter readers, utilities
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to install new or replace broken meters. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What meter readers, utilities do
- Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
- Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
- Install new or replace broken meters.
- Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.
- 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.
- Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
- Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for meter readers, utilities
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -10.5% over ten years, declining · about 1,400 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay meter readers, utilities
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $79,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,450 |
| New Jersey | $63,030 |
| Illinois | $60,690 |
| New York | $56,960 |
| North Carolina | $41,830 |
| Louisiana | $37,570 |
| Mississippi | $37,120 |
See meter readers, utilities pay in every state
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Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.