Not quite so Alfredo old chap. As I have mentioned elsewhere in Aircrew Notices, I calculate that over my working lifetime I will have amassed a greater amount of wealth than the average flying machine operator.
As to pecking orders, one cannot compare Engineering with Operations. For instance, B747 Airline Captains are at the top of a Flight Operations pecking order. Maintenance Engineers (or Technicians or Mechanics as the case may be) who are still plying their trade down on the flight line on night shift are somewhat below the top of the Engineering pecking order. Comparing Pilots to Engineers is really as pointless as comparing apples to oranges. The majority of pilots never get to meet an engineer.
**********************************
Through difficulties to the cinema