If you want to correctly analyze the meaning of ladder tattoo, you must first understand the symbolic meaning of ladder. Generally speaking, the ladder itself has no special meaning, but it will have a different meaning only after people use the ladder to climb high, or fall down because of the ladder.

From the characteristics of the ladder, the ladder generally refers to the development of the situation, especially a person's reputation, career, study and so on can be expressed in the form of a ladder. Climbing the ladder to a high place undoubtedly represents "rising higher and higher", which is a typical auspicious symbol. Climbing the ladder to a high place symbolizes the development of career and the improvement of study.

Source: @stoname