Metro area air quality · 2025

Salem, OR

Median AQI 34 (Good). 85.1% of monitored days rated Good across this metro's EPA monitoring network.

34
Median AQI
85.1%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
76%
Cleaner than US metros

Aggregated from EPA Air Quality System (2025), 181 monitored days. EPA AQS →

The verdict

The Salem, OR metro runs good on the EPA scale, cleaner than most US metros, a median AQI of 34 with 85.1% of 181 monitored days in the Good band.

34
median AQI · Good
85.1%
days rated Good
76%
cleaner than US metros
85
worst single reading

No day crossed into the Unhealthy tier across the metro's monitors in 2025.

Insights: Salem, OR metro. Aggregated EPA AQS monitors across this Core-Based Statistical Area logged a median Air Quality Index of 34 over 181 measured days in 2025, which corresponds to a Good band and a Good metro-wide health grade. The monitored-day split lands at 154 Good days (85%), 27 Moderate (15%), and 0 Unhealthy-for-Sensitive-Groups (0%). The 90th-percentile AQI finished at 54 while the highest single-day reading hit 85 (Moderate). Metro residents averaged roughly 25.5 clean-air days per 30-day window across the reporting year.

Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -124 and the median AQI moved -2 points, which classifies the multi-year trajectory as improving. The metro avoided any Unhealthy-tier days entirely, an outcome that typically reflects favorable wind patterns, lower industrial density, or effective regional emission controls. Metros with comparable AQI profiles include Bangor, ME (86.1% good, AQI 34); Baraboo, WI (79.6% good, AQI 34); Dyersburg, TN (79.4% good, AQI 34).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

34

Good

Good Days

85.1%

154 of 181 days

Max AQI

85

Moderate

Health Grade

Good

90th pct: 54

AQI Day Breakdown (2025)

Distribution of 181 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

154

85%

Moderate

27

15%

USG

0

0%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Health Impact Assessment

Good

The Salem, OR metro area's air quality is rated Good based on 85.1% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.

Air quality is generally acceptable. Unusually sensitive people should monitor real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.

How does the Salem, OR metro compare?

How Salem, OR compares

Good-day share better than US avg
Salem, OR 85.1%
Bangor, ME 86.1%
US average 71.3%
Median AQI better than US avg
Salem, OR 34
Bangor, ME 34
US average 41
Unhealthy days / yr better than US avg
Salem, OR 0
Bangor, ME 0
US average 1

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is improving in the Salem, OR metro. Best year: 2024 (298 good days).

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 278 76 0 36
2021 280 83 0 36
2022 254 104 2 36
2023 268 93 0 38
2024 298 64 0 35
2025 154 27 0 34

Metros with Similar Air Quality

Metro areas across the US with a similar median AQI to Salem, OR.

Bangor, ME

AQI 34 · 86.1% good

34

Baraboo, WI

AQI 34 · 79.6% good

34

Dyersburg, TN

AQI 34 · 79.4% good

34

Fairmont, WV

AQI 34 · 72.9% good

34

Laconia, NH

AQI 34 · 87.9% good

34

Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

AQI 34 · 94.4% good

34

More Air Quality Data

Explore EPA air quality rankings and guides across U.S. metros and counties.

Cleanest Metro Areas

U.S. metros ranked by their share of Good air-quality days.

Worst Air Quality

Counties and metros with the most unhealthy air days.

All Metro Areas

Annual AQI by CBSA for every monitored U.S. metro area.

Best and Worst City Air

What drives urban air quality and how metro areas compare.

Air Quality Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the air quality in the Salem, OR metro area? ▼
The Salem, OR metro area has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 34, rated "Good." 85.1% of monitored days (154 out of 181) had good air quality in 2025.
How many unhealthy air days does Salem, OR have? ▼
In 2025, the Salem, OR metro area recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 85.
Is air quality in Salem, OR getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in the Salem, OR metro is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2024 with 298 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 154 good days.
What does AQI 34 mean for health? ▼
An AQI of 34 is "Good", air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk. This is the best category on the EPA's AQI scale.
What is the 90th percentile AQI for Salem, OR? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for the Salem, OR metro area is 54, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 85 (Moderate).
How does Salem, OR compare to other metro areas? ▼
The Salem, OR metro has 85.1% good air days. Similar metros: Bangor, ME (86.1% good), Baraboo, WI (79.6% good), Dyersburg, TN (79.4% good).

Data Sources

Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by CBSA dataset, 2020–2025. See our methodology for how AQI, median, and coverage figures are computed.

Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Source: U.S. EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by CBSA summary files (metro-level) · 2020–2025

Every figure on PlainAir is rendered directly from EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.