All careers › Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
Meter technician: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $45,910lowest 10% earn less
- $54,95025th percentile
- $74,340median
- $97,12075th percentile
- $112,500top 10% earn more
The median pay for control and valve installers and repairers, the BLS category that includes meter technicians[1], was $74,340 a year in May 2025[2]. Jobs are projected to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations[3][4].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +4.3%[3]
- Openings per year
- 3,600[7]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[8]
How much do meter technicians make?
BLS calls this group control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door. The median wage was $74,340 a year, or $35.74 an hour, in May 2025[2]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean, or average, was $76,210 a year, or $36.64 an hour[9]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980 a year[6].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $45,910 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $54,950[5]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $97,120, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $112,500[5]. In hourly terms, these boundaries were $22.07, $26.42, $46.69 and $54.09[10]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[11].
The figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits[12].
Pay by state and city
Rhode Island had the highest median wage at $110,900, followed by Alaska at $109,450 and Connecticut at $104,690[13]. Mississippi had the lowest listed median at $48,670[13].
Texas had the most jobs at 11,630[14]. California followed with 4,310 and New York with 4,170[14]. The Texas median was $58,230[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Fresno, CA had the highest median at $132,360[15]. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA followed at $131,120[15]. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX had the most jobs at 3,420, with a median of $61,680[16]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had 3,110 jobs and a median of $103,780[16].
Show median pay in 50 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island[13] | $110,900 | 110 |
| Alaska | $109,450 | 30 |
| Connecticut | $104,690 | 360 |
| North Dakota | $103,580 | 270 |
| Washington | $102,870 | 450 |
| New York | $101,150 | 4,170 |
| California | $100,260 | 4,310 |
| Wyoming | $100,030 | 290 |
| District of Columbia | $98,810 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $98,090 | 150 |
| Oregon | $97,110 | 490 |
| Michigan | $96,890 | 2,240 |
| New Jersey | $96,510 | 1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $95,520 | 1,320 |
| Nebraska | $88,610 | 440 |
| Idaho | $84,390 | 180 |
| Iowa | $83,830 | 820 |
| Vermont | $82,010 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $81,850 | 110 |
| West Virginia | $79,000 | 610 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,120 | 1,330 |
| Kansas | $77,720 | 290 |
| Missouri | $77,650 | 620 |
| Ohio | $76,920 | 1,230 |
| Minnesota | $76,640 | 710 |
| Wisconsin | $76,540 | 980 |
| Delaware | $75,720 | 150 |
| Utah | $73,090 | 300 |
| Nevada | $72,310 | 70 |
| Virginia | $68,000 | 820 |
| New Mexico | $67,520 | 320 |
| Louisiana | $66,730 | 560 |
| Maryland | $66,500 | 800 |
| Maine | $66,240 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $64,820 | 1,440 |
| Colorado | $63,770 | 1,190 |
| Oklahoma | $62,780 | 1,320 |
| Illinois | $61,980 | 250 |
| Alabama | $61,670 | 430 |
| Kentucky | $61,450 | 450 |
| Arkansas | $61,440 | 440 |
| New Hampshire | $61,380 | 220 |
| Georgia | $61,070 | 870 |
| Arizona | $60,570 | 840 |
| Indiana | $60,170 | 760 |
| Montana | $58,940 | 50 |
| Texas | $58,230 | 11,630 |
| Florida | $57,460 | 1,250 |
| Tennessee | $57,010 | 670 |
| South Carolina | $50,800 | 420 |
| Mississippi | $48,670 | 170 |
How to become a meter technician
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience[8].
- First: finish high school or the equivalent[8].
- Next: learn the work on the job. BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical[8].
In an ONET survey of 28 workers, 47% said a high school diploma or the equivalent is required[17]. Another 42% said a post-secondary certificate and 7% said an associate's degree or other 2-year degree[17]. ONET places the job in a group where previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience is required[18]. The facts here do not say how long training lasts or whether any license is required.
What meter technicians do
They install, repair and maintain devices that regulate and control flow, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats and safety valves[19]. Common tasks include:
- Recording maintenance details, such as test results and repairs[20].
- Taking apart and repairing valves, regulators and similar devices with hand and power tools[20].
- Calibrating meters, gauges and regulators[20].
- Testing valves and regulators for leaks and correct settings[20].
- Installing and testing electric meters and gas meters[20].
- Recording meter readings and installation data[20].
- Turning meters on or off to start or end service[20].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 50,400 to 52,600 jobs, a change of 2,200[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[4]. These counts include self-employed workers, who made up 3.2% of the job in 2025[3][21].
About 3,600 openings are projected each year[7]. Openings include jobs created when workers retire or move to other occupations, and new jobs too[7]. Each year, 2.2% of workers leave the labor force and 4.3% move to a different occupation[22].
Is it a good fit?
The median pay is well above the all-occupations median, and BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent for entry[2][6][8]. Growth is slightly ahead of the average for all jobs[3][4]. Pay varies by place, from $48,670 in Mississippi to $110,900 in Rhode Island[13]. The facts here do not cover training length, licenses or working conditions.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a meter technician make an hour?
- The median wage was $35.74 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $36.64[2][9].
- What education do you need to be a meter technician?
- BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with moderate-term on-the-job training[8].
- Is meter technician a job in demand?
- BLS projects 4.3% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 3,600 openings a year[3][4][7].
- What is the highest paying state for meter technicians?
- Rhode Island, at a median of $110,900, followed by Alaska at $109,450[13].
Facts and sources
- O*NET 49-9012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Control Valve Mechanic, Control Valve Technician, Electric Meter Technician, Instrument and Electrical Technician (I and E Technician), Instrument Technician, Measurement Technician, Meter Technician, Service Technician. O*NET OnLine
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door in the US was $74,340 per year and $35.74 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door is projected to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 50,400 to 52,600 jobs (a change of +2,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door: 10th percentile $45,910, 25th percentile $54,950, 75th percentile $97,120, 90th percentile $112,500. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 3,600 openings for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door was $76,210 per year and $36.64 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door: 10th percentile $22.07, 25th percentile $26.42, 75th percentile $46.69, 90th percentile $54.09. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door jobs: Texas 11,630; California 4,310; New York 4,170; Michigan 2,240; North Carolina 1,440. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (areas with at least 100 jobs): Fresno, CA $132,360; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $131,120; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $130,800; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $115,460; Stockton-Lodi, CA $105,800; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $105,450; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $104,840; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $103,780. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door jobs: Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 3,420 (median $61,680); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 3,110 (median $103,780); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,730 (median $56,080); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 1,070 (median $100,090); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,050 (median $90,740); Midland, TX 1,030 (median $58,230). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 49-9012.00 survey of workers (28 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 47%, Post-Secondary Certificate 42%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 49-9012.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections: 3.2% of Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door: 2.2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.