Not really. Most programmers I know design systems, not just mechanically program them according to the specs. Plumbers do not design - they just execute design

Not really. Most programmers I know design systems, not just mechanically program them according to the specs. Plumbers do not design - they just execute designs created by plumbing engineers. And plumbing or mechanical engineers are paid much, much higher (in this region where I live probably not as much as programmers, but close enough).