select the highest salary in sql query code example

Example 1: second highest salary in sql

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


OR

Here is the solution for nth highest
salary from employees table 

SELECT FIRST_NAME , SALARY FROM 
(SELECT FIRST_NAME, SALARY, DENSE_RANK() OVER
(ORDER BY SALARY DESC) AS SALARY_RANK
FROM EMPLOYEES)
WHERE SALARY_RANK = n;

Example 2: third highest salary in sql

SELECT * FROM Employee WHERE sal = 
         (
            SELECT MIN(sal) FROM Employee 
            WHERE  sal IN (
                                 SELECT DISTINCT TOP N
                                     sal FROM Employee 
                                         ORDER BY sal DESC
                             )
        )