Getting hired isn't that hard I've found, if you can show passion and interest for the area. The pay point is however correct. Although personally I've found the pay cut worth it in exchange for getting to work on genuinely interesting problems in a much more relaxed environment with a much better work-life balance. YMMV
>>dagw+(OP)
Well if "much more relaxed" environment also fairly translates to less hours (to compensate for the less payment) then I'd be okay with it but I suspect it does not.