A four-piste network consisting of Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Fieberbrunn and Leogang is located in the municipality, adding up to 270 kilometres (170 mi) of ski slopes.

In 1489 archbishop Johann Beckensloer gave the town market rights, but Saalbach remained, for the most part, a poor agrarian community up into the 20th century.

In May 1945, about 1000 men of Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27) Afrika, a World War II Luftwaffe Geschwader, famous for service in the North African Campaign supporting the Afrika Korps, marched here from their last base in Salzburg to surrender to American troops occupying the village.

The town of Saalbach is primarily orientated towards tourism, and many of the inhabitants' jobs are either directly or indirectly dependent on this industry.

Saalbach is one of Austria's premier ski resorts, offering a range of runs, extensive off piste, and a good snow record.

Much of the off-piste skiing is on the north side, where thigh-deep, untouched powder can be found only metres from many of the pistes.