Meter Technician Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Meter technicians in Tucson install, test and repair the water and electric meters behind every monthly bill, for Tucson Water, Tucson Electric Power and the contractors that swap meters across the valley. Posted pay runs about $19 to $34 an hour. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and how to start.
Current Meter Technician Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Meter Technician Work in Tucson
Most meter work in the Tucson metro is on the water side. The City of Tucson runs two meter job families: Utility Service Technicians who read, install and replace meters up to 1 inch and investigate high bills and leaks, and Water Meter Repairers who bench-test and calibrate residential and commercial meters in the shop. The Oro Valley Water Utility runs its own meter operations crew north of the city, and contract crews from firms such as Utility Partners of America handle large meter upgrade projects.
On the electric side, Tucson Electric Power lists metering technicians among its energy distribution crafts and counts metering among its eight in-house apprenticeship programs. The work runs from midtown neighborhoods off Speedway and Broadway to new subdivisions in Marana, Rita Ranch and Sahuarita, and much of it is outdoor walking and digging through a Tucson summer.
Top Tucson Employers for Meter Technicians
These Tucson-area utilities and contractors hire for meter installation, reading and repair:
- City of Tucson (Tucson Water) - hires Utility Service Technicians for meter reading, installs and service calls, and Water Meter Repairers for shop testing and calibration.
- Tucson Electric Power - employs relay, electronics and metering technicians in energy distribution and trains them through a metering apprenticeship.
- Town of Oro Valley - the Oro Valley Water Utility hires water utility operators for meter operations, AMI meters and service repairs.
- Utility Partners of America - a utility contractor that hires water meter technicians in Tucson to install and upgrade meters, with paid training and a company vehicle.
- Southwestern Utility Management - hires water utility meter readers in Tucson who read meters, locate lines and make minor repairs.
Meter Technician Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level (meter reader or service technician I): roughly $19 to $23 an hour.
- Experienced (meter technician or contract installer): roughly $23 to $28 an hour.
- Senior (meter repairer or top of a public series): roughly $28 to $34 an hour.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Recent Tucson postings ran $19 to $22 an hour for meter readers, $25 an hour to start for contract meter technicians, and $19.97 to $34.44 an hour across the City of Tucson's Water Meter Repairer range. A backflow tester certification and electric metering skills are the clearest levers.
How to Become a Meter Technician in Tucson
Arizona has no state license for meter technicians. Entry jobs ask for a high school diploma or GED, a valid Arizona Class D driver's license and a clean driving record, and the City of Tucson's meter positions want a year of meter reading, repair or installation experience first, which is why many people start as contract meter readers or installers. The City's Water Meter Repairer job requires a backflow tester certification within six months of hire. On the electric side, Tucson Electric Power trains its own metering technicians through a paid apprenticeship that starts with a pre-apprenticeship and runs about five years, trained at its Ken Saville Training Center on the Irvington campus. Pima Community College's HVAC-R Technician certificate at the Downtown Campus is a useful foundation in electrical basics.
What the Job Involves
Meter technicians read meters with handheld and mobile devices, install and replace meters and radio endpoints, turn service on and off, and lock meters on delinquent accounts. They investigate high-bill complaints, non-registering meters, tampering and leaks at the meter, bench-test and calibrate meters in the shop, update work orders in the billing system, and explain findings to customers at the door.
Skills Employers Look For
- A clean driving record and a valid Arizona driver's license
- Mechanical aptitude and comfort with hand tools and plumbing fittings
- Accurate data entry on handheld devices and work order systems
- Customer service on the doorstep, including tough high-bill conversations
- Basic electrical knowledge, essential for electric metering
- Stamina for walking long routes and lifting up to 40 pounds in summer heat
Career Path and Advancement
The usual Tucson ladder starts with contract meter reading or installation, moves to a City of Tucson Utility Service Technician I job, then to Water Meter Repairer, lead technician and meter shop supervisor. Others cross into water distribution as utility technicians and climb ADEQ operator grades, while electric meter workers at Tucson Electric Power advance from apprentice to journeyman metering technician and into relay and substation work.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for meter technicians:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a meter technician in Arizona?
No. Arizona does not license meter technicians. Employers ask for a valid driver's license and a clean record, and the City of Tucson's Water Meter Repairer job requires a backflow tester certification within six months of hire.
How much do meter technicians make in Tucson?
Recent Tucson postings ran about $19 to $22 an hour for meter readers and $25 an hour to start for contract meter technicians. The City of Tucson's Water Meter Repairer range runs from $19.97 to $34.44 an hour.
Which Tucson employers hire meter technicians?
The City of Tucson hires through Tucson Water's meter reading, service and repair jobs. Tucson Electric Power, the Oro Valley Water Utility, Utility Partners of America and Southwestern Utility Management also hire meter workers in the metro.
Can you become a meter technician with no experience?
Often, yes. Contract meter reader and installer jobs in Tucson commonly train new hires, and a year of that work meets the experience requirement for the City of Tucson's meter positions.
What is the difference between a meter reader and a meter technician?
A meter reader records usage and reports problems. A meter technician also installs, replaces, tests and repairs meters, investigates high bills and leaks, and handles service turn-ons and turn-offs.
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