sql server 2nd highest salary code example

Example 1: sql find second highest salary employee

/* sql 2nd highest salary employee */
select sal, ename
from emp
where sal =
    (
        select max(sal) from emp where sal <
            (select max(sal) from emp)
    )
----------------------------------------------- option 2
select *
from 
(
    select ename, sal, dense_rank() over(order by sal desc) rank
    from emp
)
where rank =2;

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
                             )
        )