Meter Readers, Utilities
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
AI Impact Summary
Meter Readers, Utilities faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 42/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 85% of all analyzed occupations. Of 15 analyzed tasks, 6 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Meter Readers, Utilities skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
by Google
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
15 tasks analyzed
Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.
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.
Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.
Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.
Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.
Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.
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.
Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.
Update client address and meter location information.
Report lost or broken keys.
Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.
Collect past-due bills.
Install new or replace broken meters.
Dig dirt away from meters to take readings.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers. | 43.05Observed | 66.4% | 20% | |
| 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. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 5% | |
| Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 29% | |
| Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 8% | |
| Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 5% | |
| Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 4% | |
| Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 3% | |
| Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers. | 80Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Update client address and meter location information. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 3% | |
| Report lost or broken keys. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Collect past-due bills. | 40Estimated | 31.0% | 2% | |
| Install new or replace broken meters. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Dig dirt away from meters to take readings. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 25.6%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$49,180
per year
Mean Wage
$55,810
per year
Employment
20K
workers
Wage Range
$33,980 - $86,480
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsAutomotive Body and Related Repairers
16%Median salary: $51,680
Higher risk than 2% of other occupations
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
17%Median salary: $70,500
Higher risk than 3% of other occupations
Pipelayers
22%Median salary: $48,710
Higher risk than 10% of other occupations
Helpers--Roofers
23%Median salary: $40,590
Higher risk than 13% of other occupations
Fence Erectors
23%Median salary: $46,940
Higher risk than 14% of other occupations
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
30%Median salary: $67,370
Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Molding and Casting Workers
37%Median salary: $45,690
Higher risk than 72% of other occupations
Couriers and Messengers
39%Median salary: $38,340
Higher risk than 77% of other occupations
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
45%Median salary: $38,940
Higher risk than 92% of other occupations
Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks
51%Median salary: $43,190
Higher risk than 97% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Financial Managers
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Meter Readers, Utilities professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
Reading Comprehension is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Service Orientation
Service Orientation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change