<select id="answer"> <option value="a" data-id="1">car</option> <option value="b" data-id="2">bus</option> </select> <script> $(function() { $("#answer").change(function(){ var element = $(this).find(':selected').attr('data-id'); var myAttr = element.attr('data-id'); console.log(myAttr); }); }); </script>