Prevailing Wage for Meter Readers, Utilities
Prevailing wage floors for Meter Readers, Utilities (SOC 43-5041) determine the minimum salary a sponsoring employer must pay on an H-1B, E-3, or green card petition. DOL sets four experience levels for this occupation, whether the role is titled Field Technician, Fieldman, or Meter Technician, and the floor shifts substantially by worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level meter readers with limited field experience, typically performing straightforward route-based reading under direct supervision. Candidates new to utility fieldwork or transitioning from unrelated roles commonly file here. Little independent judgment is expected at this stage.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for Meter Readers, Utilities. It applies to qualified workers who handle standard reading routes independently, resolve minor discrepancies, and need only occasional supervisory guidance. One to three years of utility field experience typically places a candidate here.
Level 3 applies to experienced meter readers who handle complex accounts, assist with training newer field staff, and exercise independent judgment on irregular meters or tampered equipment. Candidates with several years of continuous fieldwork and a broader service territory often qualify at this level.
Level 4 is reserved for fully competent meter reading professionals in senior or lead capacities, such as those overseeing route optimization, supervising field teams, or managing large commercial and industrial meter portfolios with minimal oversight from utility management.
Prevailing Wage for Meter Readers, Utilities by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Meter Readers, Utilities and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Verify which SOC your offer uses
Titles like Field Technician or Meter Technician sometimes get filed under adjacent SOC codes for general maintenance or inspection occupations, missing the SOC 43-5041 prevailing wage floor entirely. Confirm the LCA lists SOC 43-5041 before signing an offer.
Account for the California market premium
San Jose and San Francisco metros post prevailing wages far above the national median for this occupation. If your offer is in California but the wage cited matches the national floor, the employer may have used the wrong OES survey area on the LCA.
Watch how signing bonuses affect base wage compliance
DOL prevailing wage compliance for sponsored meter reading roles is measured against the base salary on the LCA, not total compensation. Signing bonuses and one-time payments do not count toward meeting the floor, so a low base with a large bonus can still be non-compliant.
Find employers sponsoring meter reading roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which utilities and field-service companies have historically sponsored Meter Readers, Utilities positions, so you can target employers with an actual track record of H-1B or green card filings for this occupation rather than guessing from job postings.
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Find Jobs for Meter Readers, UtilitiesPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 43-5041.00 alongside Meter Readers, Utilities, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Field Technician Prevailing Wage
Field Technician Prevailing Wage
Field Technician positions fall under SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Fieldman Prevailing Wage
Fieldman Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Fieldman for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Meter Reader Prevailing Wage
Meter Reader Prevailing Wage
Meter Reader is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Meter Reader Inspector Prevailing Wage
Meter Reader Inspector Prevailing Wage
Meter Reader Inspector positions fall under SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Meter Reading Clerk Prevailing Wage
Meter Reading Clerk Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Meter Reading Clerk for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Meter Technician Prevailing Wage
Meter Technician Prevailing Wage
Meter Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Utility Service Worker Prevailing Wage
Utility Service Worker Prevailing Wage
Utility Service Worker positions fall under SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Water Inspector Prevailing Wage
Water Inspector Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Water Inspector for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Water Meter Reader Prevailing Wage
Water Meter Reader Prevailing Wage
Water Meter Reader is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Water Use Inspector Prevailing Wage
Water Use Inspector Prevailing Wage
Water Use Inspector positions fall under SOC 43-5041.00 (Meter Readers, Utilities). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Meter Readers, Utilities?
DOL bases prevailing wages on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. For SOC 43-5041, OFLC publishes four wage levels derived from that survey. Employers sponsoring a meter reader on an H-1B or PERM application must pay at least the level that matches the worker's experience and duties at the specific worksite.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with direct supervision; Level 2 is an independent qualified worker handling standard routes; Level 3 is an experienced worker exercising judgment on complex accounts; Level 4 is a senior or lead professional. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision described in the job offer and on the LCA, not just your years of experience alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same meter reading role vary so much by city?
DOL's OFLC uses regional OES survey data, so wage floors reflect local labor market conditions rather than a single national figure. A worksite in San Jose commands a wage floor well above one in McAllen or El Paso because local utility employers compete in a higher-cost labor market. The LCA must name the actual worksite address, and the prevailing wage used must correspond to that specific OES survey area, not the employer's headquarters.
What happens if a sponsored meter reading offer is below the prevailing wage?
An LCA listing a wage below the DOL prevailing wage floor for SOC 43-5041 at the worksite location will be rejected during OFLC certification or flagged during USCIS adjudication. For PERM-based green card cases, the same floor applies throughout the process. If a certified LCA later shows the employer paid less than the attested wage, DOL's Wage and Hour Division can order back pay and bar the employer from future sponsorships.
How do I verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location for this occupation?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, select SOC 43-5041, and enter the worksite city or county to retrieve the current four-level wage table for that area. Cross-check against your offer letter to confirm the stated salary meets or exceeds the level your employer is certifying on the LCA. Migrate Mate also shows which employers have sponsored Meter Readers, Utilities roles before, helping you identify companies already familiar with meeting these wage requirements.
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