Higher than on the totem pole

ABOVE

Think of a word that describes something positioned at a greater height or rank, like a bird soaring over a tree.

The phrase "higher than on the totem pole" plays on the common expression "high on the totem pole," meaning a position of importance or rank. In this clue, "higher than" directly hints at the word "above," which literally means in a superior position. Totem poles are carved wooden poles from Indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest, where figures are stacked vertically—so being "above" another figure fits the imagery perfectly. The answer is a straightforward synonym for the idea of being in a loftier spot.