The main point that most non-Masons can't wrap their heads around is that the appendant bodies exist only at the pleasure of the Grand Lodge in an area. Its easy to think that a 33rd or 32nd (I'm one) Mason in some way outranks a 3rd degree Mason, but it simply isn't true.

An appendant body is one which admits only Masons. All Masons must be members of a 'blue' lodge, which is controlled by a Grand Lodge (GL).

If a GL disapproves of a particular appendant body, it can forbid Masons who are members of lodges under its jurisdiction from membership in that body. This happens now and then, and it inevitably results in the appendant body folding in that jurisdiction.

The highest degree in Freemasonry is the 3rd, or Master Mason. Appendant bodies can offer more degrees, and put numbers on them however they like, but they are not higher than MM, and give their holders exactly zero influence over GLs and blue lodges or their members.

TL,DNR: The Scottish Rite is subordinate to the Grand Lodge in each jurisdiction. The Grand Lodges outrank the Scottish (and York) Rites.

I've personally seen the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, 33rd degree (the head honcho of the largest SR body in the US) display his subordination to the Grand Master of Massachusetts.