Meter Readers, Utilities pay range in Tuscaloosa
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,480 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,130 or more. The middle half of meter readers, utilities in Tuscaloosa earn between $38,480 and $43,680.
- $38K10th
- $38K25th
- $40KMedian
- $44K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,730 | $3,561 | $20.54 |
| Median | $40,500 | $3,375 | $19.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,480 | $3,207 | $18.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,680 | $3,640 | $21.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Meter Readers, Utilities pay in Tuscaloosa vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Meter readers, utilities in Tuscaloosa earn 14% less than the Alabama average ($49,940) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($55,380). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $48,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa | $42,730 | $40,500 | $38,480 | $47,130 | 40 |
| Alabama | $49,940 | $45,710 | $33,460 | $72,200 | 470 |
| United States | $55,380 | $48,150 | $34,720 | $85,930 | 19,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Meter Readers, Utilities salary after taxes in Tuscaloosa
On the average salary of $42,730, a single filer in Tuscaloosa takes home about $34,764 a year, or $2,897 a month and $1,337 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Tuscaloosa a good place for meter readers, utilities? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Tuscaloosa area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.7), so the average $42,730 buys what about $48,711 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Tuscaloosa ($45,220). A typical home costs $223,201, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Meter Readers, Utilities salary in other Alabama cities
Tuscaloosa ranks 4th of 4 Alabama metro areas for this job; Huntsville pays the most ($54,710).
- Huntsville$54,710
- Daphne$53,610
- Birmingham$52,230
- Tuscaloosa$42,730
Highest-paying cities for meter readers, utilities
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($98,850).
- San Francisco, CA$98,850
- Omaha, NE$83,350
- Reno, NV$82,320
- Seattle, WA$81,610
- Sacramento, CA$79,570
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Meter Readers, Utilities salary in Tuscaloosa: questions
How much do meter readers, utilities make an hour in Tuscaloosa?
$20.54 an hour on average, and $19.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level meter readers, utilities salary in Tuscaloosa?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,480 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the meter readers, utilities take-home pay in Tuscaloosa?
About $34,764 a year ($2,897 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,730. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do meter readers, utilities earn more in Tuscaloosa than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($55,380).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 43-5041; area Tuscaloosa, AL (46220). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.63, this job is 2.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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