Jobs Similar to Meter Readers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to meter readers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners, Aircraft Service Attendants and Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers.
Meter Readers: $48,150 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
74% similar · $49,880 (+4%) · High school
- 2Aircraft Service Attendants
74% similar · $40,450 (−16%) · High school
- 3Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
74% similar · $58,640 (+22%) · High school
- 4Locomotive Engineers
73% similar · $81,410 (+69%) · High school
- 5Light Truck Drivers
71% similar · $44,860 (−7%) · High school
- 6Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
71% similar · $49,450 (+3%) · High school
- 7Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
71% similar · $68,840 (+43%) · High school
- 8Subway and Streetcar Operators
71% similar · $86,380 (+79%) · High school
- 9Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
71% similar · $59,050 (+23%) · High school
- 10Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers
71% similar · $74,330 (+54%) · High school
- 11Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
71% similar · $60,020 (+25%) · High school
- 12Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
70% similar · $49,690 (+3%) · High school
- 13Bridge and Lock Tenders
70% similar · $57,700 (+20%) · High school
- 14Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
70% similar · $60,070 (+25%) · Training or associate
- 15Commercial Pilots
70% similar · $123,220 (+156%) · Training or associate
- 16Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation
70% similar · $46,340 (−4%) · High school
- 17Forest and Conservation Workers
70% similar · $43,680 (−9%) · High school
- 18Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
70% similar · $77,320 (+61%) · High school
- 19Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
69% similar · $60,600 (+26%) · High school
- 20Gas Plant Operators
69% similar · $87,820 (+82%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than meter readers.
- Gas Plant Operators69% similar · $87,820 (+82%)
- Subway and Streetcar Operators71% similar · $86,380 (+79%)
- Locomotive Engineers73% similar · $81,410 (+69%)
- Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators70% similar · $77,320 (+61%)
- Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers71% similar · $74,330 (+54%)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers71% similar · $68,840 (+43%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for meter readers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where meter readers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like meter readers
What jobs are most similar to meter readers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (74% similar), Aircraft Service Attendants (74% similar), Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (74% similar), Locomotive Engineers (73% similar) and Light Truck Drivers (71% similar).
Which jobs like meter readers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Commercial Pilots ($123,220, +156%; usually training or an associate degree), Gas Plant Operators ($87,820, +82%; usually a high school diploma) and Subway and Streetcar Operators ($86,380, +79%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with meter readers ($48,150). Without more preparation than meter readers usually need: Gas Plant Operators, Subway and Streetcar Operators and Locomotive Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.