Everything that we do online creates “raw data.” Everytime we watch something, listen to a song, purchase something, or perform a search, it leaves a data trail. Databases are used to store all of this data. SQL is used to construct, manage, and query these databases. Companies and organizations use these data trails to gain business insights and make informed decisions. Databases are also used for important proprietary information such as company financial records, HR files, and customer’s contact and personal information.
People trained in SQL are responsible for managing and finding this data. Using SQL, you can “query” a database to find information. It also provides an organization and sorting structure for large amounts of “raw data.” As data becomes more and more important to businesses, so do people trained in SQL.
There are several “flavors” of SQL. The different languages are designed to work together and are very similar, with certain syntax differences. The most popular flavors of SQL are MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server. MySQL and SQL Server are both open-source, while SQL Server was developed by Microsoft.
Becoming skilled in SQL is important for anyone who is interested in launching a new career in data or development. In data career paths, SQL is used to analyze data, work with machine learning models, and perform predictive modeling. If you choose to become a developer, you’ll be using SQL to communicate with servers when building a website or web application. While training in SQL isn’t enough on its own to start a new career, it’s a core skill for anyone who is interested in either of these career paths.
Careers that include SQL as a core skill pay lucrative salaries, often with a range near or more than six-figures. Since the average annual salary across all occupations is around $52,000, training in a career with SQL could double your salary. Many of these positions also have very high job satisfaction and are in high demand.
This is a list of some of the most common roles that require training in SQL and an average annual salary range for each:
- Database Administrator: between $90,000 and $106,000
- Data Scientist: between $118,000 and $141,000
- SQL Developer: between $85,000 and 106,000
- Software Engineer: between $115,000 and $127,000
- Web Developer: between $72,000 and $105,000
- Data Analyst: between $69,000 and $93,000
- Python Developer: between $113,000 and $114,000
- Business Analyst: between $80,000 and $95,000
- Data Engineer: between $116,000 and $131,000
- Back-end Developer: around $116,000
- Full Stack Developer: between $101,000 and $114,000
While in-person training has been the most traditional way of training for a new career, online and remote learning has become incredibly popular, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Forbes reports that online training has increased by 2,500% since 2020.
Training online can be especially recommended for people who have already busy schedules or live in an area where in-person classes are limited. Online training can give you access to world-class instruction from expert instructors at top schools. It can also save you the time and hassle of a commute.
Online classes can be live or asynchronous. 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 can ask questions whenever you need. You can even receive direct feedback from your instructor or collaborate with classmates using screen-sharing software.
Noble Desktop is a top NYC coding, business, and design school with more than three decades of experience training people for new careers. All of their highly-rated courses, bootcamps, and certificate programs can be taken live online or at their state-of-the-art campus in midtown Manhattan. Graduates of all of their certificate programs earn a New York State-Licensed Certificate.
Noble Desktop’s certificate programs are so highly-rated because of their unique 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. They also offer a “free retake” option on all of the certificate programs listed below, which allows students to “retake” the course for free for up to one year. These unique features guarantee that students learn the skills they need to launch a new career.
Noble Desktop: Data Science Certificate
Key Information: Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate prepares graduates to launch a new career in the very hot field of data science. This certificate program is designed to be career comprehensive, with mentorship and career preparation included. Graduates earn a New York State-Licensed Certificate in Data Science.
In this Data Science Certificate, students are prepared to launch a new career as a Data Scientist using Python, data visualizations, machine learning algorithms, and working with SQL to interact with databases. Students develop an expert-level of skills in Python, the world’s most popular programming language and the preferred language for data careers.
Some of the specific skills taught in this certificate program include coding with Python, analyzing tabular data, creating graphs and visualizations, working with linear regressions, cleaning and balancing data, making interactive dashboards, evaluating the performance of machine learning models, automating tasks using Python, and advanced SQL querying techniques.
Students work on hands-on, real-world projects with their expert instructor to develop a portfolio. Students also receive 18 hours of bonus 1-on-1 training to help you get ready for the job market. You’ll also receive 1-on-1 feedback on your portfolio and resume and social media assistance.
Noble Desktop: SQL Bootcamp
Key Information: This beginner-friendly bootcamp takes students from start to advanced skills programming with PostgreSQL. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion in SQL, which is sharable on LinkedIn. You can also take this bootcamp as a part of one of Noble Desktop’s certificate programs, including Data Science Certificate, Data Analytics Certificate, or FinTech Bootcamp.
Noble Desktop’s SQL Bootcamp combines the beginner-friendly foundations of working with SQL with more advanced techniques such as subqueries, aggregate functions, and functions with parameters. Students will learn the open-source PostgreSQL and skills will be transferable over the “other flavors' ' of SQL such as MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server.
Some of the skills covered in this bootcamp include using SQL queries to retrieve data from tables and databases, filtering data, grouping data, sorting data, working with JOIN statements to combine information from multiple tables, and working with the popular interface DBeaver.
Noble Desktop: FinTech Bootcamp
Key Information: This beginner-friendly, career-comprehensive bootcamp prepares students to launch a new career in financial technology. It is one of the few FinTech-focused bootcamps in the U.S. Graduates earn a New York State-Licensed Certificate in FinTech, which is shared on LinkedIn.
This bootcamp is designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in data science and financial technology. Students are guided through real-world financial projects to develop the skills they need to launch a new career. Noble Desktop also provides career assistance, including resume help, mock interviews, and 1-on-1 job mentorship.
Some of the many topics covered in this bootcamp include analyzing data with Python and SQL, finance topics (WACC, NPV, and IRR), building predictive models for internal budgeting, working with Tableau, 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, and using SQL to query databases.
Noble Desktop: Data Analytics Certificate
Key Information: This certificate program is designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions as a Data Analyst or Business Analyst.
This certificate program uses Noble Desktop’s highly-rated, project-based approach to guide students through developing skills in using Microsoft Excel to visualized and manipulate data, extracting data from databases and libraries using SQL, interpreting data results using statistical tools, using the Python programming language to work with data (gather, clean, analyze, and visualize), and working with Tableau, and Python for data visualization.
Students work with expert instructors on real-world projects to develop a career portfolio and earn a New York State-Licensed Certificate in Data Analytics.
NYIM: SQL Bootcamp
Key Information: Expert instructors guide students through hands-on projects to develop skills in using Microsoft SQL Server to work with data. This beginner-friendly live online bootcamp happens over three seven-hour classes.
NYIM’s SQL Bootcamp is designed to take you from beginner to advanced skills working with Microsoft SQL Server. Students receive 18 hours of live online instruction, a “free retake” option, and a verified certificate of completion in Microsoft SQL Server.
Some of the topics covered in this bootcamp include exploring databases, working with tables and columns, writing SQL queries, combining information with JOIN statements, filtering data, grouping data, advanced techniques (subqueries, string functions, IF statements), working with views and functions, and using the interface of Microsoft’s SQL Server Management Studio.
NYIM also offers a live online bootcamp in PostgreSQL, a popular open-source version of SQL.
Iron Hack: Data Analytics Bootcamp
Key Information: Iron Hack offers a 9-week (full-time) or 24-week (part-time) beginner-friendly remote bootcamp in data analytics. Financing options are available for this hands-on comprehensive training.
Iron Hack’s Data Analytics Bootcamp trains students in the fundamentals needed to launch a career in data, including Git, Python, and MySQL. Students also learn cutting-edge tools designed to provide job security such as artificial intelligence and large language models like ChatGPT.
The course starts with 60 hours of remote prep work that focuses on command line Git, Python, MySQL, and statistical analysis. This section is designed to lay the foundations for beginners. When the live instruction starts, instructors will focus on learning how to code in Python, the world’s most popular programming language and the preferred language of data professionals. Next, students learn data wrangling, APIs and web scraping, and continue developing their skills in Git, SQL, and Python to the intermediate level. The bootcamp ends with modules that cover advanced analytics and machine learning models.
Sonic Training: SQL Training: Introduction & Intermediate
Key Information: This live online SQL training features an extra small class size:it is limited to 5 students. Over two days, students are trained in SQL, from the beginner level to intermediate.
This live online course is two days: the first day is focused on introducing SQL and on day two, students are introduced to more intermediate skills. A 200 page instruction manual is included for students to continue developing their skills. Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion in SQL. This course is not career-comprehensive, but designed to help students learn how to use SQL for database information retrieval
Some of the skills covered in this class include connecting to the SQL Server, executing queries, including search conditions, using functions based on data types, organizing data queries, performing calculations, retrieving data across multiple tables, formatting outputs, and generating reports.
UCLA Extension: Relational Database Management
Key Information: UCLA Extension is a continuing education program that offers tech training, including Relational Database Management. This 11-week live online course is offered during most regular academic terms.
This course is designed to teach students relational database technology and provide the skills for database design and management. Some of the topics covered include data modeling, storage and server management, SQL, indexes, database integrity, transactions, the translation of logical designs to physical storage, concurrency control, recovery, client/server relational database management, data normalization, and writing optimized queries.
This course can be applied to several of UCLA’s certificate programs, Database Management, Applications Programming, or Systems Analysis. Additional courses offered by UCLA Extension that include training in SQL are Advanced Structured Query Language (SQL) Syntax, Advanced Database Management Concepts, and Python Programming IV: Numerical Computing.
Academy X: SQL Scripting Fundamentals Training
Key Information: This two-day live online class is a beginner-friendly introduction to SQL. It is designed for people who want to learn SQL to work as Web Developers, Programmers, or Database Administrators.
Some of the skills covered in this two-day live online training include an introduction to SQL and relational databases, selecting data, gathering data from multiple tables, using criteria in SQL statements, total generation with SQL, unions, subqueries, JOINS, working with views, creating action queries, field generation with SQL, indexing, and common table expressions.
This course is offered live online and also at five campus locations: San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Sacramento, and San Diego. The course is two 8-hour sessions over two consecutive days.
FAQ for SQL Certificates
What is the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification?
Most commonly, 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 most commonly offered by professional organizations. For example, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) is an industry-standard entry-level certificate in project management offered by PMI, the world’s largest project management professional organization.
Certificates are typically earned when a student graduates from a particular training program. For example, graduates of Noble Desktop’s certificate programs earn a New York State-Licensed Certificate.
Should I Pursue a Certificate or a Certification?
There are two common career paths that use SQL as a core skill: data and development. The kind of certificate or certification that you pursue may depend on which field you plan to pursue.
Do I Need to Become Certified to Find a Job?
There are no industry-standard certifications for either, but earning a certificate is a great way to prove to potential employers that you’re skilled in SQL. Certificates can be especially important for people who have no previous experience and are learning SQL to launch a new career.
What Certificate Program is Right for Me?
Which is Better: In-Person or Online Classes
In-person classes are the most traditional format for training for a new career. You have the advantage of face-to-face interaction with your instructor and classmates. This could lead to more opportunities for networking and mentorship.
Many top schools offer perks to in-person students. For example, if you take an in-person class with Noble Desktop, you gain access to their state-of-the-art classrooms and computer labs, free wifi, onsite technical support, a spacious common room, and free coffee.
Online classes have their perks too. One of the biggest is that you’ll have access to world-class instruction no matter where you live. They can also open learning opportunities that you wouldn’t have otherwise. For example, there might not be a FinTech Bootcamp in your area, but you could take one live online from a top school such as Noble Desktop.
Which is Better: Live Online or Asynchronous Classes?
There are two main kinds of online classes: live online and asynchronous classes. Asynchronous classes are on-demand and are most commonly taken through pre-recorded video lectures and written materials. Live online classes have an instructor who teaches in real-time, most commonly over a teleconferencing platform such as Zoom.
Live online classes have all of the same advantages of in-person classes, because they work exactly like in-person classes. Because the class is being streamed 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 learn at their own speed. They can also be great for people with distractions because you can press pause or rewind whenever you need.