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What is a hostage negotiator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
ScoreHostage NegotiatorUS Average
Salary
5.7

Avg. Salary $73,365

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
2.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.37%

Asian 1.79%

Black or African American 10.22%

Hispanic or Latino 16.00%

Unknown 3.94%

White 66.68%

Gender

female 22.99%

male 77.01%

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
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Hostage negotiator career paths

Key steps to become a hostage negotiator

  1. Explore hostage negotiator education requirements

    Most common hostage negotiator degrees

    Bachelor's

    51.9 %

    Associate

    20.4 %

    Master's

    14.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific hostage negotiator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patrol41.64%
    Hostage Situations35.91%
    Crisis Intervention11.89%
    Critical Incidents10.55%
  3. Complete relevant hostage negotiator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New hostage negotiators 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 hostage negotiator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real hostage negotiator resumes.
  4. Research hostage negotiator duties and responsibilities

    • Orchestrate the day to day demands, managing deficiencies/opportunities and prioritization of unit operations throughout specific target areas within NYC.
    • Provide substantial influence with design, layout and specifications for CCTV system implement on fleet of public transit buses.
    • Represent company in arbitration settlement negotiations that result in an agreement to obtain governmental approval for the sale of the business.
    • Develop instructor and student rubrics essential in obtaining CALEA accreditation.
  5. Prepare your hostage negotiator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your hostage negotiator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a hostage negotiator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable hostage negotiator resume templates

    Build a professional hostage negotiator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your hostage negotiator resume.
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    Hostage Negotiator Resume
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    Hostage Negotiator Resume
    Hostage Negotiator Resume
    Hostage Negotiator Resume
    Hostage Negotiator Resume
    Hostage Negotiator Resume
    Hostage Negotiator Resume
  6. Apply for hostage negotiator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a hostage negotiator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

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

How did you land your first hostage negotiator job

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Average hostage negotiator salary

The average hostage negotiator salary in the United States is $73,365 per year or $35 per hour. Hostage negotiator salaries range between $30,000 and $175,000 per year.

Average hostage negotiator salary
$73,365 Yearly
$35.27 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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