[CommenterPerson]

I'm an existence proof of this. I learned SQL following my previous employer dying a slow death > layoffs. Having worked in a narrow field, there weren't options to continue working in it. That was 25 years ago.

SQL was the foundation of a second career in business data analytics. Moderately interesting and paid the bills.

I must say, it's not just select *, joins and so forth. The human side was important. Always being on the lookout in Big Corp for people hungry for data (lots of them), and working to find quick solutions.