Meter Readers, Utilities pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,860 or more. The middle half of meter readers, utilities in San Diego earn between $55,780 and $82,340.
- $45K10th
- $56K25th
- $67KMedian
- $82K75th
- $99K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,700 | $5,892 | $33.99 |
| Median | $66,870 | $5,572 | $32.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,780 | $4,648 | $26.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $82,340 | $6,862 | $39.59 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Meter Readers, Utilities pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Meter readers, utilities in San Diego earn 11% less than the California average ($79,610) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($55,380). At the median the gap is +39% against the U.S. median of $48,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $70,700 | $66,870 | $45,140 | $98,860 | 60 |
| California | $79,610 | $79,040 | $50,400 | $102,310 | 810 |
| 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 San Diego
On the average salary of $70,700, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $55,984 a year, or $4,665 a month and $2,153 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for meter readers, utilities? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $70,700 buys what about $63,189 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 13.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Meter Readers, Utilities salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th of 5 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($98,850).
- San Francisco$98,850
- Sacramento$79,570
- Riverside$76,850
- Los Angeles$74,020
- San Diego$70,700
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 San Diego: questions
How much do meter readers, utilities make an hour in San Diego?
$33.99 an hour on average, and $32.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level meter readers, utilities salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the meter readers, utilities take-home pay in San Diego?
About $55,984 a year ($4,665 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,700. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do meter readers, utilities earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% more 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.0%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.30, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.30).
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