SQL Min – SQL Tutorial – Learn SQL Online

The SQL Min() function returns the smallest value of an expression.

SELECT MIN(expression)
FROM tables
WHERE predicates

Table: Employees

EmployeeId	FirstName	LastName	Department	Salary
203	Grrhh	Huus	Finance	78000
205	Yrbbg	Bcciu	Finance	57000
204	Neehhi	Iymee	Finance	45800
206	Qhvii	Kirtsc	Finance	62000
303	Aliice	Benyu	Development	55000
302	Yqfgge	Llyqu	Development	75000
304	Vvgee	Tsk	Development	49000

Example 1
We want to know the lowest salary among all employees:

SELECT MIN(Salary) AS "Lowest salary"
FROM Employees

The result will look like:

Lowest salary
45800

Example 2
If we want to select lowest salary for each department, we can use GROUP BY clause:

SELECT Department, MIN(Salary) AS "Lowest salary"
FROM Employees
GROUP BY Department

The result will look like:

Department	Lowest salary
Finance	45800
Development	49000