What You'll Do

  • Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.
  • Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
  • 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.
  • Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
  • Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.
  • Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
  • Update client address and meter location information.
  • Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible.
  • Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.0/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Service Orientation 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5
Monitoring 2.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.88/5
Operations Monitoring 2.88/5
Operation and Control 2.88/5
Active Learning 2.75/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.75/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Integrity, Cautiousness, Self-Control

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Near Vision 3.5/5
Oral Comprehension 3.25/5
Oral Expression 3.25/5
Information Ordering 3.12/5
Perceptual Speed 3.12/5
Trunk Strength 3.12/5
Written Comprehension 3.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Billing software Geographic information system GIS systems Graphing software Mapping software Meter reading software Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software Word processing software

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.51/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.37/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.15/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 3.8/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 3.57/5)

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Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Customer Field Representative Electric Meter Reader Facilities Technician (Facilities Tech) Field Service Engineer Field Technician Fieldman Gas Meter Reader Meter Reader Meter Reader Inspector Meter Reading Clerk Meter Record Clerk Meter Technician Meterman Steam Meter Reader Utilities Technician Utility Meter Technician Utility Service Worker Utility Technician Water Inspector Water Meter Reader Water Use Inspector

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.