Porters, Attendants and Related Workers

How to become a meter reader or Vending-machine collector

Official title: Meter reader/Vending-machine collector

Also called: Coin machine collector, Meter reader, Parking meter reader, Ticket dispenser servicer, Utility meter reader, Vending machine collector, Coin machine collector, Parking meter reader, Ticket dispenser servicer

Meter reader/Vending-machine collector reads electric or water consumption meters and records volume used by residential and commercial consumers, and removes cash and conducts visual inspections of vending-machines. He/she takes reading of meter dials, checks readings to locate abnormal consumption and records reasons for fluctuations. He/she also inspects meters and connections for defects, damage and unauthorised connections and indicates irregularities on forms for necessary action. He/she refills goods sold for vending and other coin-operated machines and may carry out basic maintenance.

Main tasks

Receiving immediate payment or collecting money from vending machines, parking meters or similar coin-boxes
Reading electricity, gas or water meters and recording consumption
Verifying readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations
Inspecting meters for unauthorised connections, defects, and damage such as broken seals

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

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

Questions people ask

Will AI change the work of a meter reader or Vending-machine collector?

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

Sources

International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026