# Will meter readers be replaced by AI? Updated October 2026 Meter readers score 41 out of 100 for AI exposure. AI helps with 48% of their task time, and they stay in charge. AI can do another 17%. 35% needs a person. - **17%** AI can do it - **48%** AI helps - **35%** Needs a person Moderate exposure Higher than 55% of the 923 jobs we scored. ## Task by task We graded 12 tasks, most exposed first. AI can do 2 of them, helps with 6 and leaves 4 to people. | Task | AI exposure | | --- | --- | | 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. Data upload is routine digital transfer; returning devices is minor. | 75% AI can do it | | Update client address and meter location information. Address and meter location updates are routine data entry. | 75% AI can do it | | Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs. Filing problem reports is digital; spotting issues needs presence. | 55% AI helps | | Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations. AI can flag anomalies and suggest causes; revisits stay manual. | 45% AI helps | | Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible. Reschedule messages are automatable; leaving them at sites is not. | 45% AI helps | ## How meter readers compare All jobs (923) Office and administrative support (51) The dark line is **meter readers, at 41**. Each dot is a score, and darker dots mean more jobs share it. The short marks are the averages, 37 for all jobs and 57 for office and administrative support. ## Pay and outlook in the US Median pay $48,150 a year, May 2025 People employed 19,430 in the US, May 2025 Projected change in jobs \-10.5% from 2024 to 2034 ## Skills to build - Verify abnormal consumption readings in Microsoft Excel - Plan and map meter routes in GIS systems - Inspect meters for tampering and broken seals on site - Perform preventative maintenance and minor meter repairs on site - Connect and disconnect services at customer premises - Answer billing questions using billing software ## Safer roles nearby 5 related jobs with lower scores. - [Control valve technicians19 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/control-valve-technicians/) - [Substation technicians35 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/substation-technicians/) - [Electrical maintenance technicians37 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/electrical-maintenance-technicians/) - [Transportation electronics technicians25 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/transportation-electronics-technicians/) - [Quality inspectors40 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/quality-inspectors/) ## Questions about meter readers and AI Will AI replace meter readers? Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly uploading meter data from hand-held computers to office computers and updating client address and meter location records. Reading dials, inspecting seals and connecting services stay with people because they need someone on site. Which meter reader tasks is AI taking over? Data upload and address updates are the most exposed, each with an exposure score of 75. Uploading hand-held data is routine digital transfer, and address and meter location changes are routine data entry. Filing problem reports scores 55, since the form is digital, though spotting the issue still needs a person in the field. Which meter reader tasks stay human? Connecting and disconnecting services scores 5 on exposure, since turning service on or off takes physical work on premises. Preventative maintenance and minor meter repairs also score 5, because they need hands and tools at the meter. Walking routes to read dials scores 8, and inspecting meters for tampering and broken seals scores 12. How can meter readers stay valuable? Learn GIS and mapping software to plan routes and find hard-to-reach meters faster. Use Microsoft Excel to check abnormal readings before a revisit, and record likely causes of fluctuations. Take on field inspections for tampering and damage, and answer billing questions in person using billing software. ## Related jobs - [Power dispatchers41 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/power-dispatchers/) - [Boiler operators26 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/boiler-operators/) - [Septic tank technicians17 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/septic-tank-technicians/) - [Power plant operators28 out of 100](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/power-plant-operators/) ## Next steps for meter readers - ### Check your job Your job title is a rough guide. Your tasks decide your score. Paste your job description or CV to see which tasks AI can do. [Check your job](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-exposure-checker/) [Check your CV](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/cv-checker/) - ### Estimate team savings The score is per person. Add headcount and salary to see the hours AI can take on in a team of meter readers, and what they cost. [Estimate what AI saves a team of meter readers](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/team-ai-audit/?role=meter-readers) [Work out the return on automation](https://www.aigentcy.com/tools/ai-savings-calculator/) ### Check which roles in your team AI can take on We map your team's tasks, show what AI can do today and build the automations that pay back first. [Book an AI audit](https://www.aigentcy.com/audit/) ## Related topics - [**Jobs AI can't replace**Roustabouts score lowest, at 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-cant-replace/) - [**Jobs most at risk from AI**Proofreaders score highest, at 76.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-most-exposed-to-ai/) - [**High-paying jobs with low AI exposure**Pediatric surgeons earn a median $559,030 and score 29.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/high-paying-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Entry-level jobs with low AI exposure**Roustabouts need little prior training and score 6.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/entry-level-jobs-low-ai-exposure/) - [**Jobs AI speeds up the most**AI helps with 98% of the task time for health informatics specialists.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs-ai-speeds-up/) - [**AI and jobs in Malta**15 iGaming roles graded task by task.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/malta/) - [**Skills that keep work human**The skills to build in the jobs AI changes least.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/skills/) - [**Jobs A to Z**Every job we score, by first letter.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/jobs/) - [**AI exposure by industry**Average scores for 22 job groups.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/industries/) - [**Write a CV screening software can read**How applicant tracking systems read a CV, and what to change.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/cv-screening-guide/) - [**AI for businesses**The tasks to automate first in each team and industry.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-for/) - [**How we score AI exposure**The grading, the weights and every source.](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/) Sources and licences Occupation data from the O\*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and modified by Aigentcy. O\*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Wage, employment and projection data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. EU occupation names from ESCO, European Commission. AI usage signals from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY) and Microsoft Research (CC BY 4.0). [Methodology and sources](https://www.aigentcy.com/ai-exposure/methodology/). Scores © Aigentcy. Quote them with a link to the page.