Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is a common infectious pathogen globally. The misuse of antimicrobial agents has made the prevention and treatment of SA infection more difficult. Seeking new and effective alternatives to antimicrobial agents is important and is a hot topic in current and future research. Numerous studies have reported that interleukin-17 (IL-17) is essential for the clearance and prevention of SA. The IL-17 family is diverse and the mechanism is complex. Although the connection between human IL-17 and SA-carriage has not been widely studied, most animal experimental results have brought hope for overcoming SA infection. The advantages of the IL-17 signaling pathway have also prompted more and more researchers to focus on its role in immunity, with the potential to become a key target of anti-SA vaccine preparation. This paper reviews research progress of IL-17 and its signaling pathway, as well as the molecular mechanism of SA infection.