Head to head
Which skill should you learn next? Score both against real job postings.
Python
170
scored postings
Demand index
Posted pay (US)
Excel
91
scored postings
Demand index
Posted pay (US)
Demand index: the larger skill is 100, the other is scaled to it.
The matchup
ShouldApply has scored 6,679 job postings. Python appears in 170 of them (2.5%) and Excel in 91 (1.4%). 1 postings list both, which is 0% of everything that lists either one.
Each bar below uses one ruler for both skills. The leader on a metric gets a gold edge and a Leads label. Pay uses US postings that list a salary, ghost risk is the share of postings with a ghost probability of 50% or higher, and depth is the level (L0 to L5) the scoring engine assigned to the skill when it read the posting, not a stated years-of-experience ask.
Head to head
Python has 87% more postings than Excel.
Scored postings that list the skill.
Python postings pay $46K more at the median (44%).
US postings that list pay (39 and 23).
The scoring engine reads Excel at a deeper level on average, by 0.6 of a level.
Level the scoring engine assigned to the skill, L0 to L5.
Python postings are less likely to carry high ghost signals, 16% against 29%.
Share of postings with a ghost probability of 50% or higher.
Excel postings are flagged remote-friendly more often, 41% against 34%.
Share of postings flagged remote.
Based on 6,679 scored job postings, updated . The pool refreshes every 2 hours from 4 job boards.
Strengths
Where it is used
Role mix
Both skills appear together in 0% of the postings that list either one (1 postings).
Pay and depth
PythonExcel
Demand over time
Python: growing (+608%). Excel: growing (+100%). Python postings: 85 in the newer half of the last 90 days against 12 in the older half. Excel: 20 against 10.
Counts scored postings by posted date, closed ones included. Change compares the newer half of the window with the older half.
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The verdict
Python leads on more job openings, a higher median posted salary, and lower ghost risk. Excel leads on deeper scored skill levels and more remote-friendly roles. Your pick depends on the job you want next, and plenty of postings ask for both (0% of those that list either).
Go deeper on each: Python demand and depth and Excel demand and depth.
The data does not crown one. Python appears in 170 scored postings against 91 for Excel, which is 87% more openings. On pay, Python has the higher posted median ($151K against $105K). 0% of postings that list either skill list both, so learning one rarely closes the door on the other.
Python has the higher median at $151K from 39 US postings, against $105K for Excel from 23. The gap is $46K. Pay follows the role and seniority more than the single skill, so check the role pages below.
Yes, and employers often expect it. 1 scored postings list both skills, 0% of every posting that lists either one. Postings that want only Python lean toward Data Scientist roles; only-Excel postings lean toward Data Analyst.
Python does, with 170 scored postings (2.5% of everything scored) against 91 (1.4%) for Excel. Over the last 90 days, Python is growing and Excel is growing by posted date.
Python shows up most in Data Scientist postings and Excel in Data Analyst postings. The scoring engine reads Python at an average depth of L3.0 and Excel at L3.6. Python postings carry high ghost signals 16% of the time, Excel 29%.