CREATE TABLE T1(SALARY int, [NAME] varchar(50)) 
SELECT TOP 1 SALARY FROM (SELECT TOP 2 SALARY FROM T1 ORDER 
BY SALARY DESC)T1 ORDER BY SALARY

If you need the second highest salary only
then following will also work,

select Max(Salary) from TableName
where Salary not in(
Select Max(Salary) from TableName)

hi,
my id is ravi106109@gmail.com

select sal from emp a
where 1=(select count(b.sal) from emp b
where a.sal<b.sal) order by sal desc;

and also dileep is write

In the case more than one highest SALARY, only the Dilip’s 
answer is correct.

I think Daleep answer is not so precise, if you want 3rd or 
ny specified answer, this only can only be seems right for 
2nd highest salary, else, its not optimise query.I found 
Preeti's query more optimistic and accurate.

SELECT Min(Sal) FROM (SELECT TOP 2 Sal FROM emp ORDER BY 
Sal desc) as Temp

or

SELECT Min(Sal) FROM emp WHERE Sal IN(SELECT TOP 2 Sal FROM 
emp ORDER BY Sal DESC)

1 My Second Answer.

Select Top 1 * From Tablename where salary in
(select top 2 salary from tablename order by salary desc)
order by salary asc.

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

we have to use distinct key word there is a possibility 
that two person  having same salary.



select top 1 sry  from (select distinct top 2 sry  from emp 
order by sry desc)t1 order by sry asc

This query is generalised query if u replace 2 by 100 , 
then you will get 100th max salary


select top 1 salary from employee where salary in( select 
top 2 salary from employee order by salary desc) order by 
salary asc

In SQL Server 2000 Query:
-------------------------

select max(salary) from Employee where salary not in(select 
max(salary) from employee)

This Query only selects the 2'nd Higehest Salary in that 
table. So, you will try...

Select Top 1 * From Tablename where salary in
(select top 2 salary from tablename order by salary desc)
order by salary asc

select max(salary) as secondMax from employee  where id <>
(select max(salary) from employee)

select max(salary) as secondMax from employee  where salary 
<> (select max(salary) from employee)

select max(sal) from tablename where sal<(select
max(sal)from tablename)

To find Top 3 max Sal.... to put any number on the place of
3 to find nth max sal...


select top 3 sal from emp order by sal desc

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

select top 1 *  from (select top 2 * from emp order by sal 
desc  ) a order by sal asc  



Plz try this.

select a.sal from emp a
where 2=(select count(distinct b.sal) from emp b
where a.sal<= b.sal)


for getting nth max sal ..replace 2 by n


all the best

select e.* from 
(select row_number() over (order by salary desc) as Rno,* 
from employee)e
where e.Rno = 2

Select max(sal) from emp
where id='1233' and Sal< (select max(sal) from emp)