[tgma]

Sure, I totally get that someone may hate it and on balance decides it is not worth it for them, and still recognize it is generally a career promotion. I am simply asserting it is objectively a promotion even though there's propaganda at FAANG explicitly suggesting otherwise.

[prerok]

It is a promotion, I agree, at least at most companies. They usually have a single ladder and many times from senior engineer there is nowhere to go except management.

Some companies, however, do recognize the need for multiple ladders, so you can also be promoted within engineering, with a salary that is higher than middle management.

It is a problem, if you switch then to a company that does not have multiple ladders, though.