finding second highest salary in sql code example

Example 1: second max salary in sql

SELECT MAX(SALARY) 'SECOND_MAX' FROM EMPLOYEES
WHERE SALARY <> (SELECT MAX(SALARY) FROM EMPLOYEES);

Example 2: third highest salary in sql

SELECT ename,sal from Employee e1 where 
        N-1 = (SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT sal)from Employee e2 where e2.sal > e1.sal)