Compensation trade-offs are typical when relaunching a career after time away for childcare, eldercare, or other reasons. Academic studies of the return-to-work population report that professionals suffer a 37% decline in compensation after a career break of three years or longer. But media attention focusing on the statistical earnings decline can miss the deeper backstory: rather than indicating a devaluation of the return-to-work population, the lower compensation can instead reflect an intentional choice by the returning professional.