Meter Readers, Utilities Salary
The median pay for a meter readers, utilities in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX is $35,420/year ($17.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $44K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 85.97), which stretches that salary to about $41,200 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,047/month, about 41.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K get you in Brownsville-Harlingen?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Brownsville-Harlingen’s Regional Price Parity (85.97). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About meter readers, utilities
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What this looks like in Brownsville-Harlingen
Pay for meter readers, utilities in Brownsville-Harlingen runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,047/month, which is 41.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 85.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for meter readers, utilitiess.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for meter readers, utilities in metros near Brownsville-Harlingen, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $45K | $43K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $44K | $45K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $43K | $45K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $46K | $47K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Entry-level meter readers, utilities (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $44K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Meter Readers, Utilities pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Meter Readers, Utilities salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $79K | +64% | 810 |
| Pennsylvania | $78K | +63% | 860 |
| Nevada | $76K | +58% | 160 |
| Minnesota | $74K | +54% | 120 |
| Colorado | $67K | +38% | 150 |
| Washington | $66K | +37% | 390 |
| Connecticut | $64K | +33% | 140 |
| Oregon | $64K | +32% | 120 |
| New Jersey | $63K | +31% | 870 |
| Alaska | $63K | +30% | 40 |
| Wyoming | $61K | +28% | 50 |
| Iowa | $61K | +27% | 120 |
| Michigan | $61K | +26% | 270 |
| Illinois | $61K | +26% | 570 |
| West Virginia | $59K | +23% | 280 |
| Delaware | $58K | +21% | 30 |
| New York | $57K | +18% | 930 |
| Rhode Island | $57K | +18% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $54K | +12% | 300 |
| Hawaii | $52K | +8% | 50 |
| Kansas | $50K | +4% | 80 |
| Indiana | $49K | +2% | 330 |
| Missouri | $49K | +2% | 330 |
| New Mexico | $49K | +1% | 350 |
| South Carolina | $48K | -1% | 410 |
| Ohio | $48K | -1% | 1,070 |
| Alabama | $46K | -5% | 470 |
| Tennessee | $45K | -6% | 860 |
| Arizona | $45K | -7% | 360 |
| Kentucky | $44K | -8% | 690 |
| Virginia | $44K | -9% | 630 |
| Georgia | $43K | -10% | 670 |
| Texas | $43K | -11% | 1,360 |
| North Carolina | $42K | -13% | 640 |
| Florida | $41K | -16% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -18% | 390 |
| Louisiana | $38K | -22% | 500 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -22% | 230 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -23% | 600 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track meter readers, utilities salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Brownsville-Harlingen numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a meter readers, utility afford a 2BR apartment alone in Brownsville-Harlingen?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 41.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,047/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for meter readers, utilities in Brownsville-Harlingen?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new meter readers, utilities typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,471/month. At HUD’s $1,047/month FMR, rent would take 71% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is meter readers, utility a high-paying job in Brownsville-Harlingen?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $35K here vs. $48K nationally. Cost of living is 14% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Brownsville-Harlingen compare to the national average for meter readers, utilities?
Brownsville-Harlingen pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 85.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do meter readers, utilities make in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX?
The median is $35,420 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,520, and experienced meter readers, utilities can clear $44,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Brownsville-Harlingen?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,542/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,047/month, which eats 41.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a meter readers, utilities salary go in Brownsville-Harlingen?
Brownsville-Harlingen has a Regional Price Parity of 85.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median meter readers, utilities salary is worth about $41,200 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do meter readers, utilities get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.