An electromagnetic switch is disclosed as having an electromagnetic switch, operative to open or close a main contact of a motor circuit, and a solenoid having a function to push a pinion gear to a position away from a motor. The electromagnetic switch and the solenoid are placed in series in a unitary structure such that the electromagnetic switch and the solenoid have a switch case and a solenoid case both of which are integrally formed with each other to be contiguous in an axial direction.Further, a stationary core for the electromagnet and a stationary core for the solenoid are integrally folioed and an operational direction of a plunger for the electromagnet and an operational direction of a plunger for the solenoid are set to be opposite in direction.