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SQL Exercises: Employees earn more than average salary in ASC order

SQL SUBQUERY: Exercise-36 with Solution

From the following table, write a SQL query to find those employees who earn more than the average salary. Sort the result-set in descending order by salary. Return first name, last name, salary, and department ID.

Sample table: employees
+-------------+-------------+-------------+----------+--------------------+------------+------------+----------+----------------+------------+---------------+
| EMPLOYEE_ID | FIRST_NAME  | LAST_NAME   | EMAIL    | PHONE_NUMBER       | HIRE_DATE  | JOB_ID     | SALARY   | COMMISSION_PCT | MANAGER_ID | DEPARTMENT_ID |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+----------+--------------------+------------+------------+----------+----------------+------------+---------------+
|         100 | Steven      | King        | SKING    | 515.123.4567       | 2003-06-17 | AD_PRES    | 24000.00 |           0.00 |          0 |            90 |
|         101 | Neena       | Kochhar     | NKOCHHAR | 515.123.4568       | 2005-09-21 | AD_VP      | 17000.00 |           0.00 |        100 |            90 |
|         102 | Lex         | De Haan     | LDEHAAN  | 515.123.4569       | 2001-01-13 | AD_VP      | 17000.00 |           0.00 |        100 |            90 |
|         103 | Alexander   | Hunold      | AHUNOLD  | 590.423.4567       | 2006-01-03 | IT_PROG    |  9000.00 |           0.00 |        102 |            60 |
|         104 | Bruce       | Ernst       | BERNST   | 590.423.4568       | 2007-05-21 | IT_PROG    |  6000.00 |           0.00 |        103 |            60 |
|         105 | David       | Austin      | DAUSTIN  | 590.423.4569       | 2005-06-25 | IT_PROG    |  4800.00 |           0.00 |        103 |            60 |
|         106 | Valli       | Pataballa   | VPATABAL | 590.423.4560       | 2006-02-05 | IT_PROG    |  4800.00 |           0.00 |        103 |            60 |
|         107 | Diana       | Lorentz     | DLORENTZ | 590.423.5567       | 2007-02-07 | IT_PROG    |  4200.00 |           0.00 |        103 |            60 |
|         108 | Nancy       | Greenberg   | NGREENBE | 515.124.4569       | 2002-08-17 | FI_MGR     | 12008.00 |           0.00 |        101 |           100 |
|         109 | Daniel      | Faviet      | DFAVIET  | 515.124.4169       | 2002-08-16 | FI_ACCOUNT |  9000.00 |           0.00 |        108 |           100 |
|         110 | John        | Chen        | JCHEN    | 515.124.4269       | 2005-09-28 | FI_ACCOUNT |  8200.00 |           0.00 |        108 |           100 |
|         111 | Ismael      | Sciarra     | ISCIARRA | 515.124.4369       | 2005-09-30 | FI_ACCOUNT |  7700.00 |           0.00 |        108 |           100 |
|         112 | Jose Manuel | Urman       | JMURMAN  | 515.124.4469       | 2006-03-07 | FI_ACCOUNT |  7800.00 |           0.00 |        108 |           100 |
|         113 | Luis        | Popp        | LPOPP    | 515.124.4567       | 2007-12-07 | FI_ACCOUNT |  6900.00 |           0.00 |        108 |           100 |
|         114 | Den         | Raphaely    | DRAPHEAL | 515.127.4561       | 2002-12-07 | PU_MAN     | 11000.00 |           0.00 |        100 |            30 |
|         115 | Alexander   | Khoo        | AKHOO    | 515.127.4562       | 2003-05-18 | PU_CLERK   |  3100.00 |           0.00 |        114 |            30 |
|         116 | Shelli      | Baida       | SBAIDA   | 515.127.4563       | 2005-12-24 | PU_CLERK   |  2900.00 |           0.00 |        114 |            30 |
|         117 | Sigal       | Tobias      | STOBIAS  | 515.127.4564       | 2005-07-24 | PU_CLERK   |  2800.00 |           0.00 |        114 |            30 |
|         118 | Guy         | Himuro      | GHIMURO  | 515.127.4565       | 2006-11-15 | PU_CLERK   |  2600.00 |           0.00 |        114 |            30 |
|         119 | Karen       | Colmenares  | KCOLMENA | 515.127.4566       | 2007-08-10 | PU_CLERK   |  2500.00 |           0.00 |        114 |            30 |
|         120 | Matthew     | Weiss       | MWEISS   | 650.123.1234       | 2004-07-18 | ST_MAN     |  8000.00 |           0.00 |        100 |            50 |
|         121 | Adam        | Fripp       | AFRIPP   | 650.123.2234       | 2005-04-10 | ST_MAN     |  8200.00 |           0.00 |        100 |            50 |
|         122 | Payam       | Kaufling    | PKAUFLIN | 650.123.3234       | 2003-05-01 | ST_MAN     |  7900.00 |           0.00 |        100 |            50 |
|         123 | Shanta      | Vollman     | SVOLLMAN | 650.123.4234       | 2005-10-10 | ST_MAN     |  6500.00 |           0.00 |        100 |            50 |
|         124 | Kevin       | Mourgos     | KMOURGOS | 650.123.5234       | 2007-11-16 | ST_MAN     |  5800.00 |           0.00 |        100 |            50 |
|         125 | Julia       | Nayer       | JNAYER   | 650.124.1214       | 2005-07-16 | ST_CLERK   |  3200.00 |           0.00 |        120 |            50 |
|         126 | Irene       | Mikkilineni | IMIKKILI | 650.124.1224       | 2006-09-28 | ST_CLERK   |  2700.00 |           0.00 |        120 |            50 |
|         127 | James       | Landry      | JLANDRY  | 650.124.1334       | 2007-01-14 | ST_CLERK   |  2400.00 |           0.00 |        120 |            50 |
|         128 | Steven      | Markle      | SMARKLE  | 650.124.1434       | 2008-03-08 | ST_CLERK   |  2200.00 |           0.00 |        120 |            50 |
|         129 | Laura       | Bissot      | LBISSOT  | 650.124.5234       | 2005-08-20 | ST_CLERK   |  3300.00 |           0.00 |        121 |            50 |
|         130 | Mozhe       | Atkinson    | MATKINSO | 650.124.6234       | 2005-10-30 | ST_CLERK   |  2800.00 |           0.00 |        121 |            50 |
|         131 | James       | Marlow      | JAMRLOW  | 650.124.7234       | 2005-02-16 | ST_CLERK   |  2500.00 |           0.00 |        121 |            50 |
|         132 | TJ          | Olson       | TJOLSON  | 650.124.8234       | 2007-04-10 | ST_CLERK   |  2100.00 |           0.00 |        121 |            50 |
|         133 | Jason       | Mallin      | JMALLIN  | 650.127.1934       | 2004-06-14 | ST_CLERK   |  3300.00 |           0.00 |        122 |            50 |
|         134 | Michael     | Rogers      | MROGERS  | 650.127.1834       | 2006-08-26 | ST_CLERK   |  2900.00 |           0.00 |        122 |            50 |
|         135 | Ki          | Gee         | KGEE     | 650.127.1734       | 2007-12-12 | ST_CLERK   |  2400.00 |           0.00 |        122 |            50 |
|         136 | Hazel       | Philtanker  | HPHILTAN | 650.127.1634       | 2008-02-06 | ST_CLERK   |  2200.00 |           0.00 |        122 |            50 |
|         137 | Renske      | Ladwig      | RLADWIG  | 650.121.1234       | 2003-07-14 | ST_CLERK   |  3600.00 |           0.00 |        123 |            50 |
|         138 | Stephen     | Stiles      | SSTILES  | 650.121.2034       | 2005-10-26 | ST_CLERK   |  3200.00 |           0.00 |        123 |            50 |
|         139 | John        | Seo         | JSEO     | 650.121.2019       | 2006-02-12 | ST_CLERK   |  2700.00 |           0.00 |        123 |            50 |
|         140 | Joshua      | Patel       | JPATEL   | 650.121.1834       | 2006-04-06 | ST_CLERK   |  2500.00 |           0.00 |        123 |            50 |
|         141 | Trenna      | Rajs        | TRAJS    | 650.121.8009       | 2003-10-17 | ST_CLERK   |  3500.00 |           0.00 |        124 |            50 |
|         142 | Curtis      | Davies      | CDAVIES  | 650.121.2994       | 2005-01-29 | ST_CLERK   |  3100.00 |           0.00 |        124 |            50 |
|         143 | Randall     | Matos       | RMATOS   | 650.121.2874       | 2006-03-15 | ST_CLERK   |  2600.00 |           0.00 |        124 |            50 |
|         144 | Peter       | Vargas      | PVARGAS  | 650.121.2004       | 2006-07-09 | ST_CLERK   |  2500.00 |           0.00 |        124 |            50 |
|         145 | John        | Russell     | JRUSSEL  | 011.44.1344.429268 | 2004-10-01 | SA_MAN     | 14000.00 |           0.40 |        100 |            80 |
|         146 | Karen       | Partners    | KPARTNER | 011.44.1344.467268 | 2005-01-05 | SA_MAN     | 13500.00 |           0.30 |        100 |            80 |
|         147 | Alberto     | Errazuriz   | AERRAZUR | 011.44.1344.429278 | 2005-03-10 | SA_MAN     | 12000.00 |           0.30 |        100 |            80 |
|         148 | Gerald      | Cambrault   | GCAMBRAU | 011.44.1344.619268 | 2007-10-15 | SA_MAN     | 11000.00 |           0.30 |        100 |            80 |
|         149 | Eleni       | Zlotkey     | EZLOTKEY | 011.44.1344.429018 | 2008-01-29 | SA_MAN     | 10500.00 |           0.20 |        100 |            80 |
|         150 | Peter       | Tucker      | PTUCKER  | 011.44.1344.129268 | 2005-01-30 | SA_REP     | 10000.00 |           0.30 |        145 |            80 |
|         151 | David       | Bernstein   | DBERNSTE | 011.44.1344.345268 | 2005-03-24 | SA_REP     |  9500.00 |           0.25 |        145 |            80 |
|         152 | Peter       | Hall        | PHALL    | 011.44.1344.478968 | 2005-08-20 | SA_REP     |  9000.00 |           0.25 |        145 |            80 |
|         153 | Christopher | Olsen       | COLSEN   | 011.44.1344.498718 | 2006-03-30 | SA_REP     |  8000.00 |           0.20 |        145 |            80 |
|         154 | Nanette     | Cambrault   | NCAMBRAU | 011.44.1344.987668 | 2006-12-09 | SA_REP     |  7500.00 |           0.20 |        145 |            80 |
|         155 | Oliver      | Tuvault     | OTUVAULT | 011.44.1344.486508 | 2007-11-23 | SA_REP     |  7000.00 |           0.15 |        145 |            80 |
|         156 | Janette     | King        | JKING    | 011.44.1345.429268 | 2004-01-30 | SA_REP     | 10000.00 |           0.35 |        146 |            80 |
|         157 | Patrick     | Sully       | PSULLY   | 011.44.1345.929268 | 2004-03-04 | SA_REP     |  9500.00 |           0.35 |        146 |            80 |
|         158 | Allan       | McEwen      | AMCEWEN  | 011.44.1345.829268 | 2004-08-01 | SA_REP     |  9000.00 |           0.35 |        146 |            80 |
|         159 | Lindsey     | Smith       | LSMITH   | 011.44.1345.729268 | 2005-03-10 | SA_REP     |  8000.00 |           0.30 |        146 |            80 |
|         160 | Louise      | Doran       | LDORAN   | 011.44.1345.629268 | 2005-12-15 | SA_REP     |  7500.00 |           0.30 |        146 |            80 |
|         161 | Sarath      | Sewall      | SSEWALL  | 011.44.1345.529268 | 2006-11-03 | SA_REP     |  7000.00 |           0.25 |        146 |            80 |
|         162 | Clara       | Vishney     | CVISHNEY | 011.44.1346.129268 | 2005-11-11 | SA_REP     | 10500.00 |           0.25 |        147 |            80 |
|         163 | Danielle    | Greene      | DGREENE  | 011.44.1346.229268 | 2007-03-19 | SA_REP     |  9500.00 |           0.15 |        147 |            80 |
|         164 | Mattea      | Marvins     | MMARVINS | 011.44.1346.329268 | 2008-01-24 | SA_REP     |  7200.00 |           0.10 |        147 |            80 |
|         165 | David       | Lee         | DLEE     | 011.44.1346.529268 | 2008-02-23 | SA_REP     |  6800.00 |           0.10 |        147 |            80 |
|         166 | Sundar      | Ande        | SANDE    | 011.44.1346.629268 | 2008-03-24 | SA_REP     |  6400.00 |           0.10 |        147 |            80 |
|         167 | Amit        | Banda       | ABANDA   | 011.44.1346.729268 | 2008-04-21 | SA_REP     |  6200.00 |           0.10 |        147 |            80 |
|         168 | Lisa        | Ozer        | LOZER    | 011.44.1343.929268 | 2005-03-11 | SA_REP     | 11500.00 |           0.25 |        148 |            80 |
|         169 | Harrison    | Bloom       | HBLOOM   | 011.44.1343.829268 | 2006-03-23 | SA_REP     | 10000.00 |           0.20 |        148 |            80 |
|         170 | Tayler      | Fox         | TFOX     | 011.44.1343.729268 | 2006-01-24 | SA_REP     |  9600.00 |           0.20 |        148 |            80 |
|         171 | William     | Smith       | WSMITH   | 011.44.1343.629268 | 2007-02-23 | SA_REP     |  7400.00 |           0.15 |        148 |            80 |
|         172 | Elizabeth   | Bates       | EBATES   | 011.44.1343.529268 | 2007-03-24 | SA_REP     |  7300.00 |           0.15 |        148 |            80 |
|         173 | Sundita     | Kumar       | SKUMAR   | 011.44.1343.329268 | 2008-04-21 | SA_REP     |  6100.00 |           0.10 |        148 |            80 |
|         174 | Ellen       | Abel        | EABEL    | 011.44.1644.429267 | 2004-05-11 | SA_REP     | 11000.00 |           0.30 |        149 |            80 |
|         175 | Alyssa      | Hutton      | AHUTTON  | 011.44.1644.429266 | 2005-03-19 | SA_REP     |  8800.00 |           0.25 |        149 |            80 |
|         176 | Jonathon    | Taylor      | JTAYLOR  | 011.44.1644.429265 | 2006-03-24 | SA_REP     |  8600.00 |           0.20 |        149 |            80 |
|         177 | Jack        | Livingston  | JLIVINGS | 011.44.1644.429264 | 2006-04-23 | SA_REP     |  8400.00 |           0.20 |        149 |            80 |
|         178 | Kimberely   | Grant       | KGRANT   | 011.44.1644.429263 | 2007-05-24 | SA_REP     |  7000.00 |           0.15 |        149 |             0 |
|         179 | Charles     | Johnson     | CJOHNSON | 011.44.1644.429262 | 2008-01-04 | SA_REP     |  6200.00 |           0.10 |        149 |            80 |
|         180 | Winston     | Taylor      | WTAYLOR  | 650.507.9876       | 2006-01-24 | SH_CLERK   |  3200.00 |           0.00 |        120 |            50 |
|         181 | Jean        | Fleaur      | JFLEAUR  | 650.507.9877       | 2006-02-23 | SH_CLERK   |  3100.00 |           0.00 |        120 |            50 |
|         182 | Martha      | Sullivan    | MSULLIVA | 650.507.9878       | 2007-06-21 | SH_CLERK   |  2500.00 |           0.00 |        120 |            50 |
|         183 | Girard      | Geoni       | GGEONI   | 650.507.9879       | 2008-02-03 | SH_CLERK   |  2800.00 |           0.00 |        120 |            50 |
|         184 | Nandita     | Sarchand    | NSARCHAN | 650.509.1876       | 2004-01-27 | SH_CLERK   |  4200.00 |           0.00 |        121 |            50 |
|         185 | Alexis      | Bull        | ABULL    | 650.509.2876       | 2005-02-20 | SH_CLERK   |  4100.00 |           0.00 |        121 |            50 |
|         186 | Julia       | Dellinger   | JDELLING | 650.509.3876       | 2006-06-24 | SH_CLERK   |  3400.00 |           0.00 |        121 |            50 |
|         187 | Anthony     | Cabrio      | ACABRIO  | 650.509.4876       | 2007-02-07 | SH_CLERK   |  3000.00 |           0.00 |        121 |            50 |
|         188 | Kelly       | Chung       | KCHUNG   | 650.505.1876       | 2005-06-14 | SH_CLERK   |  3800.00 |           0.00 |        122 |            50 |
|         189 | Jennifer    | Dilly       | JDILLY   | 650.505.2876       | 2005-08-13 | SH_CLERK   |  3600.00 |           0.00 |        122 |            50 |
|         190 | Timothy     | Gates       | TGATES   | 650.505.3876       | 2006-07-11 | SH_CLERK   |  2900.00 |           0.00 |        122 |            50 |
|         191 | Randall     | Perkins     | RPERKINS | 650.505.4876       | 2007-12-19 | SH_CLERK   |  2500.00 |           0.00 |        122 |            50 |
|         192 | Sarah       | Bell        | SBELL    | 650.501.1876       | 2004-02-04 | SH_CLERK   |  4000.00 |           0.00 |        123 |            50 |
|         193 | Britney     | Everett     | BEVERETT | 650.501.2876       | 2005-03-03 | SH_CLERK   |  3900.00 |           0.00 |        123 |            50 |
|         194 | Samuel      | McCain      | SMCCAIN  | 650.501.3876       | 2006-07-01 | SH_CLERK   |  3200.00 |           0.00 |        123 |            50 |
|         195 | Vance       | Jones       | VJONES   | 650.501.4876       | 2007-03-17 | SH_CLERK   |  2800.00 |           0.00 |        123 |            50 |
|         196 | Alana       | Walsh       | AWALSH   | 650.507.9811       | 2006-04-24 | SH_CLERK   |  3100.00 |           0.00 |        124 |            50 |
|         197 | Kevin       | Feeney      | KFEENEY  | 650.507.9822       | 2006-05-23 | SH_CLERK   |  3000.00 |           0.00 |        124 |            50 |
|         198 | Donald      | OConnell    | DOCONNEL | 650.507.9833       | 2007-06-21 | SH_CLERK   |  2600.00 |           0.00 |        124 |            50 |
|         199 | Douglas     | Grant       | DGRANT   | 650.507.9844       | 2008-01-13 | SH_CLERK   |  2600.00 |           0.00 |        124 |            50 |
|         200 | Jennifer    | Whalen      | JWHALEN  | 515.123.4444       | 2003-09-17 | AD_ASST    |  4400.00 |           0.00 |        101 |            10 |
|         201 | Michael     | Hartstein   | MHARTSTE | 515.123.5555       | 2004-02-17 | MK_MAN     | 13000.00 |           0.00 |        100 |            20 |
|         202 | Pat         | Fay         | PFAY     | 603.123.6666       | 2005-08-17 | MK_REP     |  6000.00 |           0.00 |        201 |            20 |
|         203 | Susan       | Mavris      | SMAVRIS  | 515.123.7777       | 2002-06-07 | HR_REP     |  6500.00 |           0.00 |        101 |            40 |
|         204 | Hermann     | Baer        | HBAER    | 515.123.8888       | 2002-06-07 | PR_REP     | 10000.00 |           0.00 |        101 |            70 |
|         205 | Shelley     | Higgins     | SHIGGINS | 515.123.8080       | 2002-06-07 | AC_MGR     | 12008.00 |           0.00 |        101 |           110 |
|         206 | William     | Gietz       | WGIETZ   | 515.123.8181       | 2002-06-07 | AC_ACCOUNT |  8300.00 |           0.00 |        205 |           110 |
+-------------+-------------+-------------+----------+--------------------+------------+------------+----------+----------------+------------+---------------+

Sample Solution:

-- Selecting specific columns (first_name, last_name, salary, department_id) from the 'employees' table
SELECT first_name, last_name, salary, department_id 

-- Filtering rows based on the condition that the 'salary' is greater than the average salary in the 'employees' table
FROM employees 

-- Subquery to calculate the average salary from the 'employees' table
WHERE salary > (
                SELECT AVG(salary)
                   FROM employees )

-- Ordering the result set based on the 'salary' column in descending order
ORDER BY salary DESC;

Sample Output:

first_name	last_name	salary	department_id
Steven		King		24000.00	90
Neena		Kochhar		17000.00	90
Lex		De Haan		17000.00	90
John		Russell		14000.00	80
Karen		Partners	13500.00	80
Michael		Hartstein	13000.00	20
Shelley		Higgins		12000.00	110
Alberto		Errazuriz	12000.00	80
Nancy		Greenberg	12000.00	100
Lisa		Ozer		11500.00	80
Gerald		Cambrault	11000.00	80
Ellen		Abel		11000.00	80
Den		Raphaely	11000.00	30
Clara		Vishney		10500.00	80
Eleni		Zlotkey		10500.00	80
Peter		Tucker		10000.00	80
Hermann		Baer		10000.00	70
Janette		King		10000.00	80
Harrison	Bloom		10000.00	80
Tayler		Fox		9600.00		80
Danielle	Greene		9500.00		80
David		Bernstein	9500.00		80
Patrick		Sully		9500.00		80
Daniel		Faviet		9000.00		100
Peter		Hall		9000.00		80
Allan		McEwen		9000.00		80
Alexander	Hunold		9000.00		60
Alyssa		Hutton		8800.00		80
Jonathon	Taylor		8600.00		80
Jack		Livingston	8400.00		80
William		Gietz		8300.00		110
Adam		Fripp		8200.00		50
John		Chen		8200.00		100
Christopher	Olsen		8000.00		80
Matthew		Weiss		8000.00		50
Lindsey		Smith		8000.00		80
Payam		Kaufling	7900.00		50
Jose 	Manuel	Urman		7800.00		100
Ismael		Sciarra		7700.00		100
Louise		Doran		7500.00		80
Nanette		Cambrault	7500.00		80
William		Smith		7400.00		80
Elizabeth	Bates		7300.00		80
Mattea		Marvins		7200.00		80
Sarath		Sewall		7000.00		80
Oliver		Tuvault		7000.00		80
Kimberely	Grant		7000.00		0
Luis		Popp		6900.00		100
David		Lee		6800.00		80
Susan		Mavris		6500.00		40
Shanta		Vollman		6500.00		50

Code Explanation:

The said query in SQL that retrieves the first name, last name, salary, and department ID from the 'employees' table where the salary is greater than the average salary of all employees. Using the AVG function in the WHERE clause, the average salary is calculated for all employees.
After filtering the 'employees' table, the main query selects only the rows with salaries greater than the average.
The resulting data is then ordered in descending order by salary, so that the employees with the highest salaries appear first in the result set.

Visual Presentation:

SQL Subqueries: Display the first and last name, salary, and department ID for all those employees who earn more than the average salary and arrange the list in descending order on salary.

Alternative Statements:

Using Correlated Subquery:


SELECT first_name, last_name, salary, department_id 
FROM employees e1
WHERE salary > (
    SELECT AVG(salary)
    FROM employees e2
    WHERE e1.department_id = e2.department_id
)
ORDER BY salary DESC;

Using JOIN with AVG Calculation:


SELECT e1.first_name, e1.last_name, e1.salary, e1.department_id 
FROM employees e1
JOIN (
    SELECT AVG(salary) as avg_salary
    FROM employees
) e2
ON e1.salary > e2.avg_salary
ORDER BY e1.salary DESC;

Practice Online


Query Visualization:

Duration:

Query visualization of Display the first and last name, salary, and department ID for all those employees who earn more than the average salary and arrange the list in descending order on salary - Duration

Rows:

Query visualization of Display the first and last name, salary, and department ID for all those employees who earn more than the average salary and arrange the list in descending order on salary - Rows

Cost:

Query visualization of Display the first and last name, salary, and department ID for all those employees who earn more than the average salary and arrange the list in descending order on salary - Cost

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