The Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is a Metropolitan Statistical Area consisting of two counties in western Oregon, Marion and Polk.

[3] The principal city is Salem, the state capital, which has a population of 175,535.

[7] The metro area also had 151,250 households and a population density of 203.2 inhabitants per square mile (78.5/km2) at Census 2010.

[7] The racial makeup of the MSA was 71% White, 0.8% African American, 1.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.6% Pacific Islander, .1% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races.

Males had a median income of $35,254 versus $26,278 for females.