Meter Readers, Utilities Salary
The median pay for a meter readers, utilities in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is $83,350/year ($40.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.55), that's roughly $81,277 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,810/month, about 33.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $83K get you in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (102.55). 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.
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What this looks like in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington sits well above the national pay line for meter readers, utilities, local pay runs about 73% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. Rent runs $1,810/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for meter readers, utilities in metros near Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $78K | $83K |
| York-Hanover | $39K | $41K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $63K | $56K |
| Columbus | $47K | $50K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Entry-level meter readers, utilities (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $37K 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 with published data
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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a meter readers, utility afford a 2BR apartment alone in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 33.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,810/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new meter readers, utilities typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,864/month. At HUD’s $1,810/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Local pay is 73% above the national median — $83K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington compare to the national average for meter readers, utilities?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +73%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do meter readers, utilities make in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The median is $83,350 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,740, and experienced meter readers, utilities can clear $85,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,372/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,810/month, which eats 33.7% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.55 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median meter readers, utilities salary is worth about $81,277 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.