In this study, a rapid method was developed for determination of salicylic acid in aquatic products by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Samples were directly extracted with 1% formic acid acetonitrile and purified with acetonitrile saturated N-hexane, then separated on a C18 (1.7 μm, 2.1 mm×50 mm i.d) column and eluted with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.10% formic acid aqueous solution, and analyzed by mass spectrometry in negative ion multiple reaction monitoring mode and using external standards. The results showed that good linearity was obtained in the range of 0.5~50 ng/mL for salicylic acid under the established method, and the correlation coefficients was 0.999. The limits of detection (LOD) was 2.5 μg/kg. The average recoveries of the method was ranged from 69.10% to 97.20% with relative standard deviations ranged from 2.30% to 13.40% in aquatic products (Monopterus albus, Snakehead, grass carp and lobster) at three spiked levels (n=6). This proposed method was advantageous in routine detection of salicylic acid residues in aquatic products for its simplicity and high sensibility. The established method was used to detect salicylic acid residues in real aquatic products, and trace the source analysis of the residues, which can provide a useful guideline for risk assessment of the food safety.