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AI exposure Office and administrative support

Will AI replace meter readers?

Meter Readers, Utilities. US occupation 43-5041.

0.0%

of the time meter readers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of meter readers' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.

Average US job 7.7%

Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.

What AI already does for meter readersWhat meter readers no longer do alone

O*NET lists 13 tasks for meter readers. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

13 of the 13 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.Core task
  • Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.Core task
  • Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible.Core task
  • Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.Core task
  • Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.Core task
  • Report lost or broken keys.Core task
Show the other 7
  • Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.Core task
  • Upload into office computers all information collected on hand-held computers during meter rounds, or return route books or hand-held computers to business offices so that data can be compiled.Core task
  • Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.Core task
  • Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.Core task
  • Collect past-due bills.
  • Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations.
  • Update client address and meter location information.

How that compares

Among the 50 office and administrative support occupations, meter readers rank 43. The group averages 19.1%, and its most exposed job is Customer Service Representatives at 70.1%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Level with 0.0%

  1. 346Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers 0.0%
  2. 346Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers 0.0%
  3. 346Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders 0.0%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.