Stuck in job, keep being 2nd choice for new jobs

I have a fine job, but there are some drawbacks that make me want to go: no salary increases, long hours, chaotic, questionable expertise alignment. I need to earn more, so I apply for new jobs.

I have interviewed for dream jobs twice in the last year. Each dream job felt like a perfect fit for me. Each one put me through 5 interviews. I took PTO to undertake these and spent hours preparing presentations and behavioral answers. Each one made the offer to someone else and let me know that I was second. “We loved you and appreciated the depth of your expertise.” “Good culture fit.” Great, but I don’t get the job.

I’m feeling super discouraged and stuck where I am. I can get screened, I can interview to the end. I keep not getting the offer. The first time they gave no explanation or feedback, and the second time they just said, we made an offer to someone who was just more experienced.

Has anyone been in this position? When is it me who will be the one with enough experience? Will there not literally always be someone with more experience? Is the only thing to do to “keep going?” I feel old and tired, I spend evenings and weekends on new job applications instead of resting and socializing, I see my friends working stable, successful, lucrative, and comparatively easy jobs and I wonder when I will be able to stop trying… so… hard.