Meter Readers, Utilities Salary
The median pay for a meter readers, utilities in Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL is $38,280/year ($18.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers.
So what does $38K get you in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Panama City-Panama City Beach’s Regional Price Parity (97.3). 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach
Pay for meter readers, utilities in Panama City-Panama City Beach runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,017/month, which is 37.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.3) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $42K | , |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $40K | , |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $41K | , |
| Jacksonville | $55K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL
Entry-level meter readers, utilities (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $27K 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a meter readers, utility afford a 2BR apartment alone in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 37.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/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 Panama City-Panama City Beach?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new meter readers, utilities typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,821/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 56% 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $38K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Panama City-Panama City Beach compare to the national average for meter readers, utilities?
Panama City-Panama City Beach pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do meter readers, utilities make in Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL?
The median is $38,280 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,350, and experienced meter readers, utilities can clear $57,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Panama City-Panama City Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,733/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 37.2% 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach?
Panama City-Panama City Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median meter readers, utilities salary is worth about $39,342 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.