Current time in Salem, OR
Pacific Time UTC−8 · IANA zone America/Los_Angeles
Time zone details
| Time zone | Pacific Time (PT) |
|---|---|
| Standard time | PST, UTC−8 (early Nov – mid Mar) |
| Daylight time | PDT, UTC−7 (mid Mar – early Nov) |
| DST clock change | Forward 1 h, 2nd Sunday of March · Back 1 h, 1st Sunday of November |
| Sunrise today | — |
| Sunset today | — |
| Day length | — |
| Coordinates | 44.94° N, 123.04° W |
Time difference from Salem
| City | Local time now |
|---|---|
| New York | +3 h |
| Chicago | +2 h |
| Denver | +1 h |
| Phoenix | +1 / 0 h |
| Anchorage | −1 h |
| Honolulu | −2 / −3 h |
Salem, Portland, and Eugene all keep Pacific Time together with the rest of the West Coast.
About time in Salem
Salem is Oregon's capital and the seat of Marion County, though the city spills across the Willamette River into neighboring Polk County.
Because the legislature, state agencies, and the Oregon Supreme Court all sit here, statewide deadlines — bill filings, agency comment periods, election cutoffs — are defined by Salem's Pacific clock, including for the Malheur County communities that live an hour ahead on Mountain Time.
At just under 45° N in the mid-Willamette Valley, Salem's daylight stretches to about 15 and a half hours around the June solstice and contracts to roughly 8 hours 45 minutes in late December.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Salem in?
Salem is in the Pacific Time Zone (PT). It observes Pacific Standard Time (PST, UTC−8) in winter and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC−7) from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November.
What is the time difference between Salem and New York?
New York is 3 hours ahead of Salem for the entire year, since both cities switch to and from daylight saving time on the same dates. Noon in Salem is 3:00 PM in New York.
Does Salem observe daylight saving time?
Yes. Clocks move forward one hour at 2:00 AM on the second Sunday of March and back one hour at 2:00 AM on the first Sunday of November. In 2026 the changes fall on March 8 and November 1.