I am a staff Catastrophe adjuster with over 13 yrs experience.  Things have changed alot during that time.  Our company pays a salary, with Catastrophe differential.  I do not make $100K/yr.  The biggest difference is that I do not pay for my vehicle, at all, I do not pay for my lodging, I get per diem, my equipment is replaced at no charge if it gets damaged, I get a graduated overtime, and if there are long periods of NO storm activity, get the same salary.  OH, I also get one day per week off and four days once per month if the deployment lasts that long.  Now, that being said, I am lifelong friends with many IAs and they have "things" that I don't.  Some have homes in more than one place, Live aboard boats, and others.  So much of it is a matter of preference, and how much of the "political" issues that are willing to put up with.  As a retired military man, I prefer the consistant and regular paycheck coupled with the somewhat regular time off.  I can remember a couple of years that many of the IAs would kill to get an assignment,  I still had a steady income.  Good luck with your decision making process!