Salesforce career at crossroads- looking for suggestions

Hello Grapevine Community,

I’m reaching out for some guidance and support.

I have 8 years and 10 months of overall experience, with 6 years and 10 months specifically in the Salesforce ecosystem. During this time, I've worked in various roles including developer (early on), admin, business analyst, and service delivery manager. My core experience has been as an admin and team lead.

Lately, I’ve been exploring new opportunities as I feel I'm currently underpaid compared to market standards. However, I’ve noticed that openings for Admin and BA roles are quite limited, which has been a bit disheartening. I’m unsure about the right direction to take—especially since pivoting back to a hands-on development role (like Apex or LWC) may not align well with my level of experience.

If anyone here has been in a similar situation or has insights on possible paths forward (certifications, niche roles, leadership transitions, etc.), I’d really appreciate your advice.

Thanks in advance.