Utility Meter Reader

City-of-Salem,-Oregon; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid vacation and sick time

Employer-paid PERS contribution

457b pretax contributions

Flexible spending accounts

Voluntary long-term care

Employee wellness program

Employee assistance program

Employee health clinic

Fixed shift options

Job summary

The City of Salem is seeking a Utility Meter Reader to read water meters on assigned routes, document service needs, and interact with customers to resolve questions. This role helps ensure accurate billing and maintains our water infrastructure.

You will gain hands-on experience with handheld reading devices and field operations, with a schedule from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm or 6:00 am to 2:30 pm. Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma or GED and an Oregon driver’s license.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; one year of customer service or equivalent experience preferred.
• Must pass pre-employment background check.
• Oregon driver’s license or ability to obtain within 30 days of residency.

Responsibilities

• Read water meters on assigned routes using handheld devices or manual methods.
• Document service needs for meters and meter boxes requiring inspection or repair.
• Interact with customers to answer questions, address concerns, and resolve issues.
• Perform water service shutoffs or reinstatements as directed and respond to after-hours calls.
• Maintain City equipment and vehicles used in daily operations.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Driving

Data recording

Problem solving

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Handheld meter devices

Job description

Make an impact:

As a Utility Meter Reader, you’ll play a key role in supporting the City of Salem’s water services. You’ll make sure accurate water usage data for customers by reading meters on assigned routes and documenting service needs for repairs or inspections. Your work helps maintains the City’s water infrastructure and provides essential services to the community. You’ll also interact with customers in the field, answering their questions and resolving concerns, making a direct impact on their experience with City services.

Learn and grow:

This position offers opportunities to develop your skills in customer service, technology, and field operations. You’ll gain hands‑on experience with water meter reading equipment, troubleshooting issues, and working with a diverse community. The City of Salem values growth and will support you in building your knowledge and abilities to advance your career.

What you will do:

In this role, you’ll spend most of your day in the field reading water meters using handheld devices or manual methods. You’ll document service needs for meters and meter boxes that require inspection or repair. You’ll also interact with customers to answer questions, address concerns, and resolve issues when meter access is limited. Additional duties include performing shutoffs or reinstating water services as directed, responding to after‑hours service calls, and maintaining City equipment and vehicles. Your work ensures accurate billing and helps keep the City’s water services running smoothly.

Additional information on job responsibilities:

• Frequent contact with utility customers and the public.
• Walk or drive assigned routes to read and collect water meter data, document service needs, and ensure accurate billing.
• Inspect meters and meter boxes to identify issues such as damage, obstructions, leaks, or unauthorized connections, and report findings for further investigation or repair.
• Respond to after‑hours service calls, perform water service shutoffs or reinstatements, and maintain City equipment and vehicles used in daily operations.
• Utility Meter Readers must exercise independent judgement in completing tasks as well as work in a team environment when needed to complete routes based on tight deadlines.

What can we offer you for all your hard work?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family.
• Paid vacation and sick time in accordance with City policies.
• Competitive pay.
• Employer‑paid PERS contribution of 6%.
• Opportunity for voluntary pre‑tax contributions to a 457b account.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Voluntary long‑term care.
• Employee wellness program.
• Employee assistance program.
• Employee health clinic.
• Position schedule is 7:00 am- 3:30 pm and 6:00 am – 2:30 pm.
• The City of Salem offers a comprehensive and equitable base salary within the listed range based on your experience, skills, and education. We encourage you to clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Learn more about Equal Pay.

What are the minimum qualifications?

• Must pass the pre‑employment background check.
• Must have an Oregon Driver’s License, or the ability to obtain an Oregon license within 30 days of residency and meet the City of Salem's driving standards.
• Graduation from high school or completion of General Education Development (GED) test, and one year customer service or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job functions.

What you will bring along:

• Knowledge of water meter reading operations, equipment, and technology, with the ability to accurately collect and record data using handheld devices or manual methods.
• Strong customer service skills to effectively communicate with a diverse community, resolve concerns, and maintain composure in stressful situations.
• Ability to follow instructions, prioritize tasks, and maintain accurate records while fostering a respectful and inclusive workplace.

About us:

Salem is the second largest city in Oregon and the capital city. Centrally located in the Willamette Valley, Salem is 49 square miles in size and extends across to counties, Marion and Polk. The community has well‑established neighborhoods and carefully preserved historic buildings with wide diversity and a family‑friendly ambiance. The city is home to nearly 180,000 residents. For a full community profile detailing demographics and housing statistics, visit the City of Salem website.

The City of Salem organization has eight primary departments: Community Services, Finance, Fire, Enterprise Services, Legal, Police, Public Works, and Community Planning and Development. Several departments also have functional divisions within their department. The City of Salem employs roughly 1,350 talented and dedicated staff members and works collaboratively with five labor unions.

The Salem Police Department is the fourth largest agency in Oregon. We are a full‑service department with myriad special teams and career advancement opportunities. In November 2020, the department moved into a modern 104,000-square‑foot facility with many amenities for employees, featuring purposeful efficiency design for operations and amenities that promote employee wellness.

The Public Works Department values employees and their professional development. If you are someone that takes pride in collaborating on innovative ideas, proactively responding to community needs, and being a good environmental and financial steward, we look forward to meeting you! The Public Works Department promotes a healthy work life balance, while maintaining the utmost dedication to the health, safety, and welfare of our community, including our team!

The Urban Renewal Agency and the Salem Housing Authority are separate municipal corporations. The Agency contracts with the City for services and the Authority is led by the Housing Administrator within the Urban Development department.

Where can I find out more about the position?

Go to the menu option for Class Specifications and search for Utility Meter Reader or view by clicking here.

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For more information about employment at the City of Salem, please visit our website at www.cityofsalem.net/jobs.

This announcement is not an implied contract and may be modified or revoked without notice.