Salem has one airport (code FR3241) at Kamalapuram near Omalur on NH7 towards Dharmapuri, but currently (2008) it is not being used for commercial air transport. However, an aviation school is utilizing the facility.The nearest commercial airports are at Trichy (135km) and Coimbatore (159km).

Salem is an important rail junction in South India, because of its location almost midway between Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore. In 2007, Salem became a rail-division (including the high revenue-yielding Coimbatore District and Erode District). This was formally inaugurated on 1 November 2007 by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Indian Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.The Salem rail-division was carved out of the Palakkad rail-division in Kerala, which had created dissension between the two states.At Salem junction, most express trains pass through at night. Initiatives have been taken for a bullet train from Chennai to Coimbatore via Salem.

Three important National Highways NH7, NH47 and NH68 intersect each other at Salem.