How To Become A Tool Crib Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a tool crib manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a tool crib manager. For example, did you know that they make an average of $22.53 an hour? That's $46,859 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 6% and produce 189,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

ScoreTool Crib ManagerUS Average

Salary

3.7

Avg. Salary $46,859

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.1

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.73%

Asian 5.94%

Black or African American 10.99%

Hispanic or Latino 13.33%

Unknown 4.29%

White 64.73%

Gender

female 18.07%

male 81.93%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a tool crib manager

Explore tool crib manager education requirements

Most common tool crib manager degrees

Associate

38.2 %

Bachelor's

25.8 %

High School Diploma

15.7 %

Start to develop specific tool crib manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Cycle Counts	19.45%
Min	18.10%
Max	18.10%
MRO	13.57%
Purchase Orders	11.03%

Complete relevant tool crib manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tool crib managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tool crib manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tool crib manager resumes.

Research tool crib manager duties and responsibilities

Establish procedures that manage critical factors such as moisture sensitivity, electrostatic discharge, storeroom temperature and FIFO inventory staging system.
Aid MRO buyers in the compilation and review of obsolescent materials and equipment.
Grind and repair various types of cutting tools, reamers, drills etc.
Seek outside sources to procure material and parts when not available from OEM supplier.

Apply for tool crib manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a tool crib manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first tool crib manager job

Dawn Westphalen

Tool Crib Manager, Kobelco Aluminum

Before working in the tool crib, I was working in production worked hard ,came to work every day, Learn Learned everything I could from the maintenance techs about the machines, I was running at the time got to know the ins and outs of the parts and what they do. My work got noticed, and I was asked to start a tool crib. Once I got into the tool crib I was starting from scratch I separated each section of racks and color coated them, according to the department and equipment parts belong to. Also had a section for parts that were for multiple machines. I created a spreadsheet for parts check out. I learned about the vendors and each local supplier and was taught about quoting through three suppliers apples to apples and leadtimes. I kept the storeroom very clean and organized, so it would be easy for the tax and the planner to find parts needed for work. orders saved a lot of money and effort for the company as a whole. One of my suppliers loved my storeroom and the providing parts to their designated areas and suggested me to another company as a maintenance planner because of my ability to organize and keep them company my top priority. I attended many job related seminars, and Automation fares to learn about new and better alternatives for our equipment.