Head to head
Which skill should you learn next? Score both against real job postings.
SQL
414
scored postings
Demand index
Posted pay (US)
Tableau
49
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 Tableau in 49 (0.7%). 30 postings list both, which is 7% 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 745% more postings than Tableau.
Scored postings that list the skill.
About level. The gap is under 3%.
US postings that list pay (82 and 10).
The scoring engine reads SQL at a deeper level on average, by 1.2 of a level.
Level the scoring engine assigned to the skill, L0 to L5.
Tableau postings are less likely to carry high ghost signals, 23% against 28%.
Share of postings with a ghost probability of 50% or higher.
About level. The gap is under 3%.
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 7% of the postings that list either one (30 postings).
Demand over time
SQL: growing (+256%). Tableau: growing (+120%). SQL postings: 96 in the newer half of the last 90 days against 27 in the older half. Tableau: 11 against 5.
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 and deeper scored skill levels. Tableau leads on lower ghost risk. Your pick depends on the job you want next, and plenty of postings ask for both (7% of those that list either).
Go deeper on each: SQL demand and depth and Tableau demand and depth.
The data does not crown one. SQL appears in 414 scored postings against 49 for Tableau, which is 745% more openings. On pay, SQL has the higher posted median ($130K against $127K). 7% 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 $127K for Tableau from 10. The gap is $3K. Pay follows the role and seniority more than the single skill, so check the role pages below.
Yes, and employers often expect it. 30 scored postings list both skills, 7% of every posting that lists either one. Postings that want only SQL lean toward Data Analyst roles; only-Tableau postings lean toward Data Analyst.
SQL does, with 414 scored postings (6.2% of everything scored) against 49 (0.7%) for Tableau. Over the last 90 days, SQL is growing and Tableau is growing by posted date.
SQL shows up most in Data Analyst postings and Tableau in Data Analyst postings. The scoring engine reads SQL at an average depth of L2.4 and Tableau at L1.2. SQL postings carry high ghost signals 28% of the time, Tableau 23%.