Dataford
Interview QuestionsInterview GuidesExperiencesCoaching
New
Pricing
Get started
Dataford
Popular roles
Software EngineerData AnalystData ScientistData EngineerBusiness AnalystAI EngineerMachine Learning EngineerProduct Manager
Browse
Browse All RolesEvery role hub, from analyst to MLBrowse All CompaniesCompany-specific interview loopsAll Interview GuidesThe full guide library
Top questions by role
Software EngineerData AnalystData ScientistData EngineerBusiness AnalystAI EngineerMachine Learning EngineerProduct Manager
Top questions by skill
SQLPythonStatisticsMachine LearningA/B TestingSystem DesignGenerative AIProduct SenseMetricsBehavioral
Browse all questions →Try a mock interview
Experiences
Practice
Mock InterviewsTimed interview simulations with feedbackCoaching1:1 coaching with people at your target companiesSuccess PathYour 6-week structured planModulesCurated lessons by topicWebinarsTalks from ex-Big Tech data leadsPlaygroundA free-form scratch editor
Learn
BlogInterview strategy and career adviceTech Job Market ReportHiring trends across data and AI rolesFor UniversitiesDataford for career centersAbout DatafordWho we are and how we build
Pricing
Build my plan
SQL Window Ranking Query
00:00
5 left

SQL Window Ranking Query

EasySQL · PostgreSQL

Problem

OsborneKlein supports compensation analysis for Ameriprise teams. Write a PostgreSQL query that ranks employees by salary within their department and returns employees in the top three salary ranks.

Requirements

  1. Join employees to departments to display the department name.
  2. Use a window function partitioned by department to rank salaries from highest to lowest.
  3. Return every employee whose salary rank is 1, 2, or 3. Tied salaries must share the same rank, so ties may produce more than three employees in a department.
  4. Exclude employees without a matching department and sort the final output by department, salary descending, and employee ID.

Schema

employees
ColumnTypeDescription
employee_idPKINTUnique employee identifier
employee_nameVARCHAR(100)Employee full name
department_idINTReferences departments.department_id
salaryNUMERIC(12,2)Annual employee salary
departments
ColumnTypeDescription
department_idPKINTUnique department identifier
department_nameVARCHAR(100)Department display name
Tablesemployeesdepartments
Interviewer

Your question is SQL Window Ranking Query. Start with the requirements and the two tables in the Question tab.

Run and submit as often as you like. When you're ready, talk me through your approach or go straight to the code.

You need to log in / sign up to run or submit.
CodePostgreSQL
Sign up free to run your codeLog inLn 1
Run your query to see results here.