I've been there and done that, reached $8K after 7 years, $12K after 11 years and $20K at age 38. Make around $320K all in if include bonus. What I realized is to continually gain skills and experience which are market relevant. That means being unafraid to take risks at work in innovative and untested areas. Even if you fail, it's unlikely the company will let you go while at the same time you gain hands on experience which not many will have.