Head to head
Which skill should you learn next? Score both against real job postings.
SQL
414
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. SQL appears in 414 of them (6.2%) and Excel in 91 (1.4%). 40 postings list both, which is 9% 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
SQL has 355% more postings than Excel.
Scored postings that list the skill.
SQL postings pay $25K more at the median (24%).
US postings that list pay (82 and 23).
The scoring engine reads Excel at a deeper level on average, by 1.2 of a level.
Level the scoring engine assigned to the skill, L0 to L5.
SQL postings are less likely to carry high ghost signals, 28% against 29%.
Share of postings with a ghost probability of 50% or higher.
SQL postings are flagged remote-friendly more often, 46% against 41%.
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 9% of the postings that list either one (40 postings).
Pay and depth
SQLExcel
Demand over time
SQL: growing (+256%). Excel: growing (+100%). SQL postings: 96 in the newer half of the last 90 days against 27 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.
Not sure which skill your resume already shows? Scan your resume
The verdict
SQL leads on more job openings, a higher median posted salary, lower ghost risk, and more remote-friendly roles. Excel leads on deeper scored skill levels. Your pick depends on the job you want next, and plenty of postings ask for both (9% of those that list either).
Go deeper on each: SQL demand and depth and Excel demand and depth.
The data does not crown one. SQL appears in 414 scored postings against 91 for Excel, which is 355% more openings. On pay, SQL has the higher posted median ($130K against $105K). 9% of postings that list either skill list both, so learning one rarely closes the door on the other.
SQL has the higher median at $130K from 82 US postings, against $105K for Excel from 23. The gap is $25K. Pay follows the role and seniority more than the single skill, so check the role pages below.
Yes, and employers often expect it. 40 scored postings list both skills, 9% of every posting that lists either one. Postings that want only SQL lean toward Data Analyst roles; only-Excel postings lean toward Data Analyst.
SQL does, with 414 scored postings (6.2% of everything scored) against 91 (1.4%) for Excel. Over the last 90 days, SQL is growing and Excel is growing by posted date.
SQL shows up most in Data Analyst postings and Excel in Data Analyst postings. The scoring engine reads SQL at an average depth of L2.4 and Excel at L3.6. SQL postings carry high ghost signals 28% of the time, Excel 29%.