This is the 12280th most frequent French word.
échelon
"Échelon" means "a level, rank, or tier in an organization or system."
In this sentence, 'échelon' is used metaphorically to represent an achievement or step in one's career or development.
Il a atteint un nouvel échelon dans sa carrière professionnelle.
He has reached a new level in his professional career.
Here, 'échelon' is used literally to denote a rung or step on a physical ladder.
Le pompier a grimpé rapidement à l'échelon le plus élevé de l'échelle.
The firefighter quickly climbed to the highest rung of the ladder.
In this example, 'échelon' refers to a hierarchical level or tier within an organizational structure.