What Does a Materials Supply Storekeeper Do?
A materials supply storekeeper runs a storeroom that other people depend on to keep working: the maintenance stores at a plant, the parts room at a transit garage, or the central supply room for a hospital, school district or government agency. The storekeeper issues parts and supplies against work orders or signed requisitions, sets reorder points, raises purchase requests, receives and inspects deliveries, and ships repairs and returns back to vendors. Compared with an entry-level inventory clerk, the storekeeper answers for the storeroom's value and accuracy and often works with little day-to-day supervision.
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Materials Control Associate, Order Fulfillment Specialist, Receiver, Receiving Associate, Receiving Clerk, Receiving Coordinator, Shipper, Shipping Clerk.
Materials Supply Storekeeper Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a materials supply storekeeper include:
- Issue parts, tools and consumables to mechanics and staff against work orders or signed requisitions, recording each issue in the inventory system.
- Set and review minimum and maximum stock levels and raise purchase requisitions when items hit their reorder point.
- Compare each delivery with the purchase order and packing list, and note damage or shortages before signing the bill of lading.
- Call vendors and carriers to sort out wrong parts, backorders and freight damage claims.
- Prepare shipping paperwork and pack items going back to vendors for repair, warranty or credit.
- Assign bin locations and arrange the storeroom so critical spares can be found fast during a breakdown.
- Run scheduled cycle counts, reconcile variances and write up adjustments for the supervisor's approval.
- Store flammables, chemicals and other hazardous materials correctly and keep safety data sheets on hand.
- Operate forklifts and pallet jacks to receive, store and stage pallets and heavy parts.
- Report on usage, slow-moving stock and obsolete items to purchasing or the maintenance manager.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a materials supply storekeeper, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Inventory control in SAP software or a similar maintenance or ERP system
- Reading part numbers, cross references and equipment manuals to identify the right spare
- Microsoft Excel for usage reports, reorder lists and count reconciliation
- Forklift operator certification under OSHA rules, provided by most employers
- Fluency with receiving paperwork, including purchase orders, packing lists and bills of lading
- Labeling bins with barcode printers and recording issues with handheld scanners
- Hazardous materials storage awareness, including reading safety data sheets
- Holding the line with staff who want parts without paperwork, while still moving fast when a machine is down
Education and Training
A high school diploma or GED is the standard requirement and the level about three quarters of workers in this occupation report; about 12 percent hold an associate's degree. Most storekeepers spend time as stock clerks, warehouse workers or parts runners before taking charge of a storeroom. Employers train you on their own inventory and purchasing system, and forklift certification is handled on site. Government storekeeper jobs often use civil service exams and may ask for specific supply experience. A community college certificate in supply chain, purchasing or logistics can help you move up into buyer or inventory planner roles.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $38,200 - $51,570 per year, with a median of $45,260.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks.
BLS projects employment of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks to decline about 8 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 61,300 openings a year. Storekeepers play a vital role in organizations with significant material handling needs. Experience in inventory management can lead to warehouse supervisor, supply chain coordinator, or purchasing agent positions.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks.
Materials Supply Storekeeper Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $34,650 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $38,200 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $45,260 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $51,570 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $62,190 |
Highest-Paying States for Materials Supply Storekeepers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Washington ($51,590), District of Columbia ($49,660), Hawaii ($49,660), Massachusetts ($49,240), Vermont ($49,080). Pay is lowest in Alabama ($38,940), New Mexico ($38,860), Mississippi ($38,620).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,940 |
| Alaska | $47,900 |
| Arizona | $45,410 |
| Arkansas | $40,500 |
| California | $46,520 |
| Colorado | $47,130 |
| Connecticut | $45,810 |
| Delaware | $44,120 |
| District of Columbia | $49,660 |
| Florida | $40,700 |
| Georgia | $43,630 |
| Hawaii | $49,660 |
| Idaho | $41,430 |
| Illinois | $46,760 |
| Indiana | $47,320 |
| Iowa | $47,590 |
| Kansas | $44,110 |
| Kentucky | $42,830 |
| Louisiana | $40,180 |
| Maine | $47,160 |
| Maryland | $47,280 |
| Massachusetts | $49,240 |
| Michigan | $45,140 |
| Minnesota | $47,890 |
| Mississippi | $38,620 |
| Missouri | $43,480 |
| Montana | $43,590 |
| Nebraska | $44,110 |
| Nevada | $43,210 |
| New Hampshire | $47,960 |
| New Jersey | $45,440 |
| New Mexico | $38,860 |
| New York | $47,100 |
| North Carolina | $43,040 |
| North Dakota | $46,730 |
| Ohio | $45,270 |
| Oklahoma | $41,060 |
| Oregon | $47,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $45,780 |
| Rhode Island | $45,520 |
| South Carolina | $43,430 |
| South Dakota | $43,680 |
| Tennessee | $44,920 |
| Texas | $42,190 |
| Utah | $39,050 |
| Vermont | $49,080 |
| Virginia | $44,290 |
| Washington | $51,590 |
| West Virginia | $39,940 |
| Wisconsin | $47,490 |
| Wyoming | $43,000 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 92% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 87% use email every day
- 74% work against deadlines every day
- 70% are on the phone every day
- 49% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 37% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
- 36% spend more than half the workday on their feet
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or GED | 75% |
| Associate's degree | 12% |
| Bachelor's degree | 11% |
Tools and Software Materials Supply Storekeepers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy organized work with data, records and clear procedures as well as hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Time Management.
Knowledge areas used most: Administrative, Computers and Electronics, Production and Processing, Mathematics, English Language.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 2 of 5, which means some preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 43-5071.00 (Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.