Bala's Blog

DECLARE @Table TABLE(
        Wages FLOAT
)

INSERT INTO @Table SELECT 20000
INSERT INTO @Table SELECT 15000
INSERT INTO @Table SELECT 10000
INSERT INTO @Table SELECT 45000
INSERT INTO @Table SELECT 50000

SELECT  MAX(Wages)
FROM    @Table where wages<(SELECT  MAX(Wages) FROM @Table where wages<(SELECT  MAX(Wages) FROM @Table))
                                      or
SELECT  *
FROM    (
            SELECT  *,
                    ROW_NUMBER() OVER(ORDER BY Wages DESC) RowID
            FROM    @Table
        ) sub
WHERE   RowID = 3