Basics

• Chairpersons and the rest of the executive board establish their company's guidelines and policies, and make certain those guidelines are explained to employees and carried out. Chairpersons rarely concern themselves with the day-to-day operations of a company, instead focusing on the bigger picture and strategies for the company to remain profitable.
  
  Chairpersons direct a board that also recruits, interviews and hires CEOs. Most of the time, executive board members vote on issues regarding the company, but if the board is at a standstill, the chairperson usually has the final say.
  
  

Traits

• A chairperson needs to be confident, organized, professional, driven and even outgoing, as she acts as the face of the executive board. She must possess outstanding analytical and communication skills and be able to get board members and company employees to work as a team. Chairpersons should be flexible, yet decisive. They also need to be wise in areas such as marketing and finance.
  
  

Background

• Chairpersons typically need to possess a master's degree and be a proven expert in their industry. Areas of study include administration, accounting, finance, economics, mathematics, communications, advertising and promotions. Most chairpersons spend years as high-level executives for their company, or a related company. And much like other board members, chairpersons are chosen or voted into their positions. Oftentimes, they spend time in other positions on the board, such as vice-chair or treasurer.
  
  

Prospects

• More than 2 million workers held jobs as top executives in May 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Chief executives, meanwhile, held more than 400,000 jobs. Chairpersons can fall into each of those categories. The BLS also reported that jobs for top executives are expected to experience little to no growth during the 2008-2018 decade--likely because chairpersons and other top executives rarely have reason to leave their high-paying, high-profile jobs.
  
  

Earnings

• Chairpersons earned anywhere from $71,000 to more than $262,000 per year in March 2010, according to PayScale.com. Earnings were based on the chairman's experience, responsibilities and industry. Meanwhile, the BLS reported that chief executives earned a median salary of $158,560 in May 2008.