<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000031791
<NAME>                        EG&G, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1000
<CURRENCY>                    US$
       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-START>                              DEC-29-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                MAR-29-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         102,895
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  235,744
<ALLOWANCES>                                     4,380
<INVENTORY>                                    116,728
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               528,605
<PP&E>                                         462,925
<DEPRECIATION>                                 293,336
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 862,047
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          295,967
<BONDS>                                        114,776
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        60,102
<OTHER-SE>                                     289,544
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   862,047
<SALES>                                        200,402
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               355,936
<CGS>                                          128,256
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  264,760
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               103,757
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,641
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 53,695
<INCOME-TAX>                                    19,212
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             34,483
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,483
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .76
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .75