I am a current Java engineer with 1.5 YOE. (Age 26)
I want to move into low level programming (C/C++/Rust) and so I started a job hunt this July.
The market is rough, I have an offer for way more pay, but it’s again a Java backend role.
How important is it to move into the area I want (low level programming) early? If I take another job doing Java and stay for a while, will I be stuck as a Java engineer?
I should mention, my current job pays okay (not great) but I moved to a new team that seems really relaxed, so I could continue interviewing and wait for the exact area I want without must trouble.
The problem is I am not sure how much results interviewing will bring since the job market looks terrible.
Not sure what you mean by that. These languages are not managed ("not garbage collected"), but certainly not low-level programming.
There are services written in them.
To your original Q: what's more important for you? Experience or money?
If money is more important for your life phase (marriage, kids, house, etc.), learn in your free time.
Someone I know who retired recently started out programming IBM 360 macro assembler and had multiple transitions to newer tools.