Moms: Kick your adult children out of the basement! Their 'learning Linux' won't get them anywhere. Lucrative jobs because they 'learned Linux' would realistically be around 0.1–0.3%. If you want evidence: Look at Linux Youtubers. Aside from DistroTube, you have some even prominent Linux Tubers like Brodie Robertson. -Observe the background (cheap kids bed), and obviously sharing a residence. Not to single him out, but many are like that.
Sure, there's odd ones like DT, and Mutahar of SomeOrdinaryGamers, but Mutahar was a millionaire off other things, and DT appears to have been in the right place at the right time. They're also making money from YouTube where simply having Linux skills wouldn't be enough (others show that if their skills were lucrative on their own; they're obviously not working those jobs).
DT is also a poser that claimed, "I use Arch", while cheating with Arco (and still uses garbage like Cachy). You're supposed to use the AUR gingerly (checking packages with scrutiny) and he has a recent video where he's obviously stressed about NOT doing so.
Assuming 5% of desktop users actually use Linux (but we know they're manipulating stats as they do so openly): Global desktop user base would be 2.2 billion and 5% of that would be 110 million Linux desktop users. How many of those 110 million become high‑earning professionals because they used Linux on the desktop?
-Not "people who already wanted to be engineers." -Not "people who got jobs and also happen to like Linux." Specifically: people whose Linux desktop usage caused the career outcome. -The number is microscopic.
Linux users tend to be tinkerers, students, retrocomputing people, privacy nuts, distro-hoppers, and people thinking they're reviving old laptops. (old versions of Windows and Haiku are better options). -These are not pipelines to high paying jobs.
Employers don't hire Linux desktop users: they hire backend engineers, SREs, cloud engineers, DevOps, embedded engineers. They require serious Linux server skills, not "I installed Pop!_OS on my ThinkPad". Desktop Linux ≠ professional Linux.
The job market overwhelmingly uses macOS and Windows. -Even in Linux-heavy industries Dev workstations are macOS or Windows, corporate tools are macOS or Windows, mobile dev requires macOS, game dev requires Windows, design requires macOS, enterprise requires Windows. -Am I getting a high paying job for knowing how to install and use Windows?
Using desktop Linux teaches package managers, terminal basics, config files, and systemd quirks. -Stuff that can be learned in 15 minutes (like learning Vim which is just a text editor). Employers want Kubernetes, Docker, CI/CD, cloud platforms, networking, security, automation, and distributed systems.
Even people with computer science degrees and real technical education are often not getting those lucrative jobs. Many employers want at least a year of experience because people don't learn until they make that one typo that brings their shit down. Only about 20-40% of CS graduates end up in high-earning roles. Social skills, or Trade skills are far more valuable!
I'm a former 'advanced' Linux desktop user. I ran Arch for ~2 years, with a heavily and manually customized DWM. I've even graduated from a tech school with certificates and high honors. I've been making my money by doing freelance work for landlords doing plumbing, electric, cleaning, painting, cooking, etc. -It's decent money, yields a huge rent bonus (for being useful on premises), keeps me active, and isn't a pipedream. I occasionally dabble with their computers and tech, but it's not my bread and butter.
Well its not wrong. Simply learning desktop linux will not get you a job as an SRE.