Meter Readers, Utilities Salary
The median pay for a meter readers, utilities in Columbia, MO is $49,020/year ($23.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $54,808 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,160/month, about 34.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). 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 Columbia
Meter readers, utilities pay in Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,160/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for meter readers, utilities in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $62K | $67K |
| St. Louis | $54K | $57K |
| Springfield | $37K | $42K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $80K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level meter readers, utilities (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $35K 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 Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a meter readers, utility afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 34.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new meter readers, utilities typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,747/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for meter readers, utilities?
Columbia pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do meter readers, utilities make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $49,020 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,120, and experienced meter readers, utilities can clear $63,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,324/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 34.9% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (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 $54,808 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.