Programmer –> ML Engineer?

Hello, all my professional life had something to do with programming, I was a SWE, team leader, architect, SWE again. I enjoy what I do but I also enjoy other aspects of CS fields at large.

In University and in my master's program I did some introductory courses to ML/AI. I probably forgot most of it since I didn't use what I've learned.

If I am to get up to speed in the ML/AI thing, it would mean probably one or two years of part time learning since I work full time and I have kids.

I enjoy ML and find it useful, probably not more than software engineering but enough to be willing to work in the field.

My questions are:

1. from a financial perspective is it worth to dedicate a long time to learn and become a ML engineer? Is the pay much better?

2. is the field stable, the need for ML engineers in 10 years from now on be at least the same as in present

3. for people who quit programming to become ML engineers: do you like it, do you derive enough satisfaction from what you do, are you paid better?

Thank you!