Since the last installment of Claims' annual salary survey, the recession officially ended. It would seem that we could all breathe a collective sigh of relief, perhaps even celebrate—right? Unfortunately, residual complexities and challenges have no intention of fading into the background anytime soon. Amid a somewhat tepid readjustment period, the unemployment crisis still looms rather large (at press time, 9.6 percent of the American workforce were reportedly idle).

Nevertheless, cautious optimism surrounding our nation's future—and that of the claim industry—is quite palpable. So how are the talented and tenacious claim professionals for whom we write faring in this new reality? We solicited feedback about the current financial perks and perils from a random sampling of Claims subscribers and readers to find out. To the more than 500 claim professionals who gingerly filled out this year's 20th annual salary survey, we applaud you. By sharing your own personal reality, from weighing the practicalities of the job and available benefits, to airing grievances and pockets of hope, you are enabling your peers, along with the industry as a whole to continue to thrive.

Your input helps us stay abreast of the fluctuating needs and salaries of all of those claim professionals diligently working in the trenches, from independent claim adjusters to insurance company vice presidents—and everyone in between. Capturing the zeitgeist involves pouring over a deluge of statistics and comments to help you determine if you are being compensated fairly for your efforts.