From what I have seen the caste system exists in companies where the tech part is not the main business. I work in medical devices and there the programmers are

From what I have seen the caste system exists in companies where the tech part is not the main business. I work in medical devices and there the programmers are viewed as replaceable and don’t have much potential to move up. At least I haven’t seen it so far. You either have to be MBA or sales. Some medical guys also get promoted. In software companies I have seen programmers move up a lot. That’s Why I recommend people to try to work for a company where the CEO has some understanding and appreciation of your work and doesn’t see it just as a cost factor that better get offshored and outsourced. There are always exceptions but in general you will have a much better life and career in such companies.