Salem, OR Area Codes

Area codes serving Salem

Salem sits in Oregon, part of the West region and the Pacific Time zone. Its numbers are spread across an overlay of 2 codes that all cover the same ground: 503, 971.

The original code is 503 (in service since 1947). As the area ran low on numbers, regulators added overlay codes on top instead of splitting the city, so longtime residents kept their numbers while new lines received a newer code.

Code	Area served	In service
503	Northwestern Oregon, including Portland, Salem and the northern coast	January 1, 1947
971	Northwestern Oregon, including Portland, Salem and the northern coast	October 1, 2000

Nearby cities sharing these area codes

• Portland
• Gresham
• Hillsboro
• Beaverton
• Tigard
• Lake Oswego
• Keizer
• Tualatin
• Oregon City
• McMinnville
• Newberg
• Astoria
• Tillamook

How to pick an area code for a new number

When you activate a new line in Salem, the carrier assigns whichever code has numbers available — you usually can't choose. If a specific code matters to you (for example the prestige of 503), ask the carrier whether any blocks remain, or request a number transfer. All codes here dial identically and cost the same.

Dialing in Salem

Because Salem is an overlay area, 10-digit dialing is mandatory: always dial the area code plus the seven-digit number, even for a neighbor. From outside the US, dial +1, then the area code and number. See 10-digit dialing and overlay area codes for the background. For every code in Oregon, visit the Oregon area codes page.