sql query to find first three highest salary for each year code example

Example: how to get second highest salary in each department in sql

SELECT E.Employers_name, E.dep_number, E.salary
FROM Employers E
WHERE 1 = (SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT salary) 
        FROM Employers B 
        WHERE B.salary > E.salary AND E.dep_number = B.dep_number)
group by E.dep_number