Meter Readers, Utilities pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,080 or more. The middle half of meter readers, utilities in Chicago earn between $57,210 and $99,930.
- $39K10th
- $57K25th
- $80KMedian
- $100K75th
- $106K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,240 | $6,437 | $37.13 |
| Median | $80,180 | $6,682 | $38.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,210 | $4,768 | $27.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,930 | $8,328 | $48.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Meter Readers, Utilities pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Meter readers, utilities in Chicago earn 24% more than the Illinois average ($62,280) and 39% more than the U.S. average ($55,380). At the median the gap is +67% against the U.S. median of $48,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $77,240 | $80,180 | $39,060 | $106,080 | 250 |
| Illinois | $62,280 | $60,690 | $31,200 | $104,960 | 570 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $77,240, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $59,486 a year, or $4,957 a month and $2,288 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $60,881 | $5,073 |
| Working in IL | $59,486 | $4,957 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for meter readers, utilities? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $77,240 buys what about $74,560 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Meter Readers, Utilities salary in nearby metro areas
- Indianapolis, IN$64,170
- Bloomington, IN$37,940
- Green Bay, WI$74,490
- Toledo, OH$50,740
- Detroit, MI$65,060
- St. Louis, MO$60,580
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 Chicago: questions
How much do meter readers, utilities make an hour in Chicago?
$37.13 an hour on average, and $38.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level meter readers, utilities salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the meter readers, utilities take-home pay in Chicago?
About $59,486 a year ($4,957 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,240.
Do meter readers, utilities earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 39% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.45, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.45).
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