Databases have become ubiquitous as data has become such a huge part of our lives and businesses. Everytime that you do something online, it creates a data footprint. Businesses want to be able to access and analyze this data because it provides them with tremendous insights into their customers.
Companies across industries are now incorporating data into their business decisions. Since this data is stored in databases, this creates demand for people who know SQL because they build and interact with databases. Having someone trained in SQL on your team will allow you to store and access customer data, financial data, HR information, and any other kind of data useful for business intelligence.
There are several different “flavors” of SQL. The most common types are SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. Both MySQL and PostgreSQL are open-source versions of the language while SQL Server was developed by Microsoft. The languages are designed to work together and have minor differences.
There are two major career paths that require learning SQL: development and data. Developers use SQL to communicate with servers when building websites or software. Data career paths use SQL to collect data for analysis, machine learning algorithms, and predictive modeling. Both career paths offer lucrative, sometimes six-figure salaries, and high job demand.
There are a number of roles that include SQL as a core skill. If you plan to launch a new career that requires training in SQL, you might double your annual income, since most of these roles pay significantly higher than the national average across all occupations, which is around $54,000.
Here are some of the data and development roles that require training in SQL and an average annual salary range for each:
- SQL Developer: between $85,000 and $106,000.
- Database Administrators: between $90,000 and $101,000.
- Data Scientist: between $118,000 and $141,000.
- Data Analyst: between $69,000 and $93,000.
- Business Analyst: between $80,000 and $95,000.
- Data Engineer: between $116,000 and $131,000.
- Machine Learning Engineer: between $120,000 and $122,000.
- Full Stack Developer: between $101,000 and $107,000.
- Python Developer: between $113,000 and $114,000.
- Back-end Developer: between around $116,000
- .NET Developer: between $96,000 and $112,000
- Software Engineer: between $115,000 and $127,000
- Web Developer: between $72,000 and $105,000.
Forbes recently rated Chicago as “the best city to find a tech job.” Chicago set a record for startup speeds when it reached a $1 billion valuation faster than any other city. There has also been a concerted effort by the city to build its tech industry and reputation as a tech hub and as a startup incubator.
TECHicago is an initiative formed by the city and some of its companies to increase the tech industry in the Windy City. Some of their initiatives include tech migrations for legacy companies such as Allstate and Caterpillar. Some of the initiatives are to encourage startup incubation and attract top tech talent. The University of Indiana graduates more students with Computer Science degrees than any other university.
Noble Desktop: Data Science Certificate
Key Information: Noble Desktop’s innovative and immersive certificate program provides comprehensive training in launching a new career as a Data Scientist. Graduates earn a New York State-Licensed Certificate in Data Science to help them get hired.
Noble Desktop is a top NYC coding, business, and design school with more than three decades of experience training students for a new career. They use a unique “project-based approach” that guarantees you learn the skills: an expert instructor teaches a short “micro-lecture” and then immediately guides students through applying what they learned using real-world, hands-on projects.
Noble Desktop’s certificate programs are designed to provide comprehensive training for launching a new career. Their Data Science Certificatetrains graduates to become Data Scientists using Python, machine learning algorithms, data visualizations, and working with SQL to interact with databases. Students will develop expert skills in programming with Python, a powerful, open-source language that is the most popular programming language in the world.
Some of the specific skills covered in this certificate program include analyzing tabular data, creating graphs and visualizations, making predictions using linear regression, working with machine learning algorithms to analyze data, cleaning and balancing data in Pandas, making interactive dashboards with Dash Enterprise, evaluating the performance of machine learning models, working with join statements, advanced SQL querying techniques, and coding in Python for task automation.
Noble Desktop: FinTech Bootcamp
Key Information: This bootcamp prepares graduates to launch a new career in finance technology. Some of the skills covered include learning programming languages, analyzing financial data, and building machine learning models. Graduates earn a New York State-Licensed Certificate in FinTech, which is sharable on LinkedIn.
This immersive bootcamp experience prepares graduates for entry-level positions in data science and financial technology. This bootcamp uses Noble Desktop’s highly-rated projects-based approach to career training: an expert instructor will teach a short “micro-lecture” and then immediately guide students through applying what they learned using hands-on, real-world projects.
Some of the many topics covered in this bootcamp include analyzing data with Python and SQL, working with different data types (integers, floats, and strings), analyzing tabular data and graphing results, creating visualizations and dashboards with Python, using Python to analyze financial statements, finance topics (WACC, NPV, and IRR), building predictive models for internal budgeting, working with Tableau, and using SQL to query databases.
Noble Desktop: Data Analytics Certificate
Key Information: This career-comprehensive certificate program prepares graduates for a career as a Data Analyst or Business Analyst. Graduates build a portfolio of projects while earning a New York-State Licensed Certificate in Data Analytics.
This certificate program uses Noble Desktop’s time-tested, projects-based approach: an expert instructor will teach a short “micro-lecture” and then immediately guide students through real-world, hands-on projects to apply what they learned. This guarantees that students learn the skills they need to launch a new career.
Some of the skills learned in this certificate program include using Microsoft Excel to visualized and manipulate data, using the Python programming language to work with data (gather, clean, analyze, and visualize), extracting data from databases and libraries using SQL, interpreting data results using statistical tools, and working with Tableau and Python for data visualization.
Digital Crafts: Full-Time Web Development
Key Information: This 15-week immersive course trains students to work on the “full-stack” of websites and web applications: the “front-end” that you see and the “back-end” that runs the infrastructure. Graduates are prepared to apply for positions in web development.
This full-time career-comprehensive course is beginner-friendly and includes regular hands-on practice. You’ll have access to professional instructors, career services, and a dedicated “Student Success Team” to help you launch a new career in web development. Students are provided with a space at a local WeWork location.
The course is broken up into two major sections: front-end web development and back-end web development. In the first section, students learn how to build websites and web applications using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React. Other topics covered include responsive design, command lines, frameworks, APIs, Git, and debugging. In the second section, students learn the back-end of websites and web applications, including Python, working with databases using SQL, Node.js, HTTP, web hosting, and working with Terminal.
If you don’t have the time to commit to attending full-time, you can also choose to take this certificate program part-time: Part-Time Web Development.
Iron Hack: Data Analytics Bootcamp
Key Information: This career-comprehensive, but beginner-friendly bootcamp is designed to help graduates launch a new career as a Data Analyst. It can be taken for 9 weeks (full-time) or 24 weeks (part-time).
Over the course of this bootcamp, students will learn the fundamental skills of data analysis, including MySQL, Git, and Python. The course also includes training in cutting-edge topics such as artificial intelligence and large language models such as ChatGPT.
Students work with other Ironhackers on real-world projects to develop a data analysis portfolio. There is a two-part application process for attending this bootcamp: potential students must take a personal interview and take a technical test. However, since the bootcamp is designed to be beginner-friendly, the test does not require any previous experience with coding.
Learning Fuze: Full-Time Coding Bootcamp
Key Information: This 14-week immersive bootcamp provides graduates with career-comprehensive training in web development, including SQL.
When you enroll in one of Learning Fuze’s classes, you join a coding community. Students receive prep work beforehand and then transition into 7 weeks on the front-end and 7 weeks on the back-end. Some of the skills taught include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git, React.js, Node.js, and PostgreSQL.
Career services are provided throughout the program, including whiteboarding, resume assistance, mock interviews, networking, and lunch and learns. Students also receive hands-on support while on the job market and are invited to attend networking events with employer speakers.
We Cloud Data: Data Science Bootcamp
Key Information: This bootcamp includes 14 weeks of intensive training in data science followed by career support. It is designed to be career-comprehensive and graduates are prepared to apply for entry-level positions in data.
This course includes 14 weeks of hands-on training in data science, including SQL, Python, applied machine learning, working with big data, business case studies, and Agile project management. This bootcamp also focuses on soft skills such as communication and collaboration with other students.
After the bootcamp training, students work on capstone projects they can also use as job portfolios. Some of the job titles graduates have been hired includeData Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, Decision Scientist, Statistical Analyst, Statistician, Predictive Modeler, and Big Data Analyst.
FAQ for SQL Certificates
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
Typically, the difference between a certificate and a certification is that a certificate is awarded to students who complete a training course while a certification is given to students who pass an exam.
Certifications are more typically granted by professional associations after a student passes an exam and completes certain requirements. Certificates are earned by a student who graduates from a particular program. For example, graduates of Noble Desktop’s certificate program earn a New York State-Licensed Certificate, which is shared on LinkedIn.
Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?
There are two main career paths that you can choose when you train in SQL: data or development. There are no industry-standard certifications for either career path. They are skills-based fields, which means that skills are more important than education during the hiring process.
Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?
A certificate can definitely help you on the job market, especially if you have no previous experience working in the field. A certificate will demonstrate to employers that you have the skills needed for the position.
What Certificate Program is Right for Me?
You don’t need to definitively answer these questions, aim to help students understand the different options available to them, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each class option.
Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes
In-person classes are the most traditional way of training for a new career. One of their biggest advantages is that they offer face-to-face interaction with your instructor and classmates. Many schools also offer perks to in-person students such as access to cutting-edge labs and comfortable common rooms, free high-speed wifi, and onsite technical support.
However, in-person classes might be limited in your area. Choosing an online class gives you access to world-class instruction from anywhere, even your own living room. It can also save you the time and hassle of fighting traffic in Chicago.
Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?
There are two primary types of online classes: live online and asynchronous classes. In live online classes the instructor teaches in real-time, typically over a teleconferencing platform such as Zoom. Asynchronous classes are on-demand and are most commonly delivered through pre-recorded video lectures.
Live online classes work exactly like in-person classes: because the class is happening live, you’ll be interacting with your instructor and classmates in real-time. You’ll have the ability to ask questions. You can even receive direct feedback on your work or collaborate with classmates using screen-sharing software.
Asynchronous classes can be great for someone who needs to train at their own place. They can also be great for people with distractions because you can press pause or rewind whenever you need.