Get top n rows with dense_rank

 
CREATE TABLE EMP (EMPNO NUMBER(4) NOT NULL,
                  ENAME VARCHAR2(10),
                  JOB VARCHAR2(9),
                  SAL NUMBER(7, 2),
                  DEPTNO NUMBER(2));

INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (1, 'SMITH', 'CLERK',     800,    20);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (2, 'ALLEN', 'SALESMAN', 1600,    30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (3, 'WARD',  'SALESMAN', 1250,    30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (4, 'JONES', 'MANAGER',  2975,    20);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (5, 'MARTIN','SALESMAN', 1250,    30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (6, 'BLAKE', 'MANAGER',  2850,    30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7, 'CLARK', 'MANAGER',  2850,    10);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (8, 'SCOTT', 'ANALYST',  3000,    20);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (9, 'KING',  'PRESIDENT',3000,    10);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (10,'TURNER','SALESMAN', 1500,    30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (11,'ADAMS', 'CLERK',    1500,    20);


SQL> select * from (
  2     select empno, ename, dense_rank() over(order by sal desc) rank from emp
  3  )
  4  where rank < 3;

     EMPNO ENAME            RANK
---------- ---------- ----------
         8 SCOTT               1
         9 KING                1
         8 SCOTT               1
         8 SCOTT               1
         9 KING                1
         9 KING                1
         4 JONES               2
         4 JONES               2
         4 JONES               2

9 rows selected.

SQL>