> an employer would be more than happy to pay you a junior or mid compensation while extract senior level contributions from you.
The problem with this argument is that the level also gets you a seat at tables you otherwise don't get invited to. The places where the decisions get made.
So "senior contribution" is not always possible without having the senior level on paper.
I have seen "senior" people hired from outside that do not make the same level of contributions as some one who is less senior by title and has years of tenure at their current position.
This is super common bc many companies would rather hire from outside instead of promoting from within. Also why there is so much turn over (engineers last for like 2-4 years then move on).
The problem with this argument is that the level also gets you a seat at tables you otherwise don't get invited to. The places where the decisions get made.
So "senior contribution" is not always possible without having the senior level on paper.