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How to become a Meter Reader

Also called: Hot spring meter reader, Gas meter reader, Water meter reader, Electricity meter reader

Visits customers' homes in their area to read water, electricity and gas meters, enters the readings into a handheld device and gives customers a slip showing how much they have used.

Main tasks

Workers in this job say high school is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Meter reading is done by permanent staff, contract staff and contractors. Those hired as permanent staff often read meters for a few years while also doing other work. Retirees are often hired on contract. To start the job, you get one week to one month of on-the-job training at your local office. You learn basics such as the public role of each utility and how meter reading and billing work, and learn the job by visiting homes with a member of staff who trains meter readers. The job means going out every day, summer and winter, visiting one house after another, so a certain level of fitness, perseverance and a sense of responsibility are needed.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Meter Reader?

No particular education or qualifications are needed to start. Meter reading is done by permanent staff, contract staff and contractors. Those hired as permanent staff often read meters for a few years while also doing other work. Retirees are often hired on contract. To start the job, you get one week to one month of on-the-job training at your local office. You learn basics such as the public role of each utility and how meter reading and billing work, and learn the job by visiting homes with a member of staff who trains meter readers. The job means going out every day, summer and winter, visiting one house after another, so a certain level of fitness, perseverance and a sense of responsibility are needed.

How much does a Meter Reader earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥5,470,300 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Do you need a degree to become a Meter Reader?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 12% of workers are university graduates.

Will AI change the work of a Meter Reader?

Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026