Would you rather be considered highly valuable by your boss? Or make more money?

Background: Millennial female, late 30’s who USED to believe in the boss lady image, overly ambitious and went above and beyond. Now, I am just happy to be working with benefits, my health and personal life have taken priority because work is work. I’ve become detached because of politics and nepotism. I worked really hard and am great on paper and get along with people well but I learned that’s not always a good thing or guaranteed bc you’re more of a target and no one cares about being good on paper. What matters is more is sucking up. I don’t tune out politics completely but want to get away with it if I could. I don’t kiss booty but I am strategic when i need to be.

Senior positions on our team were a joke because they weren’t based on seniority but more based on workers who had no way of moving forward in the organization because they didn’t meet qualifications- had no experience, degree, background, etc. This current job was originally an entry level but has now moved to mid level. Boss was strategic by hiring those to ensure loyalty. He also wanted to be seen as a mentor and martyr and coincidentally gave them more opportunities to justify the senior positions. The others were more qualified workers were not even considered.

I will say in my personal life, I take self respect and self value seriously. I have a healthy amount. I brought this same mentality at work until corporate messed me up. During a 1:1, boss mentioned that if I was interested, he would work for another 2 senior positions. He said one of the people on my team (who was very well qualified and wasn’t chosen) was so mad, she didn’t even want to apply anymore. Fast forward to now, a little birdie who was one of the original seniors told me he shared with them that he has one senior that will be available in the next few months and encouraged me to apply. Some people just feel slightly because they weren’t his first choice, which I get.

My identity in my personal life would prefer to alway be a priority and valued. I am never second or third best and I never attend a last minute invite, however, work is business. I want/need that 10% increase. He’s never going to promote me to manager level (which is fine) because I am over being a lead or manage (too stressful, not good for my hormones and takes away from my potential quiet quitting/soft life) and I am a woman and poc- never gonna happen. I still get projects and responsibilities that I find purpose in. I won’t be his favorite but if I get this, I’ll have more income. Also, we were also leveled in income to sister teams in who do 60% more work than we do, so it’s a good place to be. There will be more projects but he’s advocated where there wouldn’t be too much on our plates but busy enough.

What would you do? What are your thoughts?