[somurzakov]

experienced data engineers should graduate to data architects/ML engineers and this way they can get on par with SWE, pls correct me if I am wrong.

[darth_avocado]

You're right, but most companies do not have those positions formalized and therefore you're expected to do those as part of your job, but not gain the financial benefits. Also, there is a big disparity in these titles and what the duties entail, which inherently again feeds into the problem.

[dragonwriter]

> You're right, but most companies do not have those positions formalized and therefore you're expected

To move on to somewhere that does, until the laggards get the message.