var selectedOptionText = $('#mySelectID').find(":selected").text();//selected option text
var selectedOptionVal = $('#mySelectID').find(":selected").val();//selected option value$("select.country").change(function(){
var selectedCountry = $(this).children("option:selected").val();
alert("You have selected the country - " + selectedCountry);
});$( "#myselect option:selected" ).val();$('.selDiv option:eq(1)').prop('selected', true)<select id="myselect">
<option value="1">Mr</option>
<option value="2" selected="selected">Mrs</option>
<option value="3">Ms</option>
<option value="4">Dr</option>
<option value="5">Prof</option>
</select>
<script>
alert($( "#myselect" ).val()); //alert '2'
//OR
alert($( "#myselect option:selected" ).attr('value')); //alert '2'
//Use this if you want to get the label and not the value
alert($( "#myselect option:selected" ).text()); //alert 'Mrs'
</script>$("#id option:selected").text();