I struggled getting a pay rise without changing organisation until i hear the term "technical individual contributors".

A bit of a lightbulb moment for me as i didn't want to go back into people management. I now use this term to set out what i have and what i can do for the project and how that has lead to greater success/value of a product.

It also highlights to management what happens if i was to leave.

I've been a software developer for thirty years and every pay increase has been less than 3% unless I switch companies.

It's their rules. I'm just playing the game.

This right here is the problem though. Unless you're so good that the company can't afford to pay you a fair share of the value you generate a rational firm ought to want to keep us working for them and feeling invested in their future instead of our own.