Meter Readers, Utilities Salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Meter Readers, Utilities in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $50,810. BLS estimates approximately 300 people work in this occupation in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is 5.5% above the national median ($48,150).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,190 | $15.48 |
| 25th percentile | $38,260 | $18.39 |
| Median (50th) | $50,810 | $24.43 |
| 75th percentile | $59,180 | $28.45 |
| 90th percentile | $75,660 | $36.38 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 7.4% — Reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 25.3% — Low reliability
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 0.096
- Location quotient
- 0.77
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV’s regional price level is above the national average (index 108.884, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $46,664 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.