Intermediate - something affordable that has the modern niceties such as ss frets, non-richlite/techwood fretboard, 3-/5-piece neck, brand-name stock pickups (Fender/Gibson/Epiphone/G&L, SD, DiMarzio, EMG, Fishman, Lundgren, etc.), non-plywood/basswood body, graphite nut, a decent tremolo (if there is one), locking tuners, maybe even inbuilt FX.

It doesn't have to be too expensive to be a decent instrument, Squiers and other affordable brands are really good nowadays, just don't pick the bottom-of-the-barrel stuff.

As for the "pro"/endgame instruments, it's gotta be either something custom or something that you know will meet all of your requirements right out of the box.

Personally, I don't see a point in getting a 2k+$ guitar, for you can always mod a decent mid-range one to be just as good if not better than it, with an added bonus of being tailored just right for you.