MySQL: Query to find Nth highest salary from a salary table:

Try this solution:

SELECT DISTINCT(Salary) FROM table ORDER BY Salary DESC LIMIT n,1

Query for second maximum salary from employee table:

Try this solution:

select max(salary) from emp where salary < (select max(salary) from emp) 

Another solution:




Simple Answer: 

SELECT sal from emp ORDER BY sal DESC LIMIT 1, 1;

You will get only the second max salary.

And if you need any 3rd or 4th or Nth value you can increase the first value followed by LIMIT (n-1) ie. for 4th salary : LIMIT 3, 1;