Salinas High School is a public 9–12 high school in Salinas, California, United States. It is the first of five primary high schools of the Salinas Union High School District. The school was moved to its current central Salinas location in 1920. The campus was rebuilt circa 1999. While most buildings were demolished and replaced, the original main wing and bell tower were retained and renovated. The current principal is Elizabeth Duethman, with assistants Hugo Mariscal, Ernesto Pacleb, Vivian Moises, and Anthony Morales. As of the 2019–2020 school year the school enrolled 2700 students. Its campus is situated in a rural and suburban setting. The Salinas Cowboys compete in the Pacific Coast Athletic League of the CIF Central Coast Section. The school colors are purple and gold.

During the August 2021 football jamboree, students made an instagram account "shaniqua.shs" that posted pictures and videos of a defaced black baby doll. Posts showed white and latino students posing with it and stomping on the doll, with comments using the n-word. The actions were called racist and disturbing by Monterey Weekly. As a result, three students were suspended and one student removed from the cheer team.

• Noah Harpster – actor, writer, director, producer
• Ryan Jensen – pitcher for MLB's Minnesota Twins organization
• Joe Kapp – quarterback, played in Canadian Football League (CFL) and in NFL with Minnesota Vikings and Boston Patriots; coached Cal football
• Rick Law – Disney artist and producer
• Nathan Martorella – professional baseball player
• Van Partible – creator of Johnny Bravo
• Gary Shipman – comic book artist and creator of Pakkins' Land
• Brendon Small – founder of Dethklok
• Evan Smith – former center for NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Cristian Soratos – professional runner
• Edward Soriano, retired United States Army Lieutenant General
• John Steinbeck – iconic novelist, The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and East of Eden (1952) and novella Of Mice and Men (1937) (former class president)
• Miles Teves – artist and conceptual designer on television productions, films, and computer games