<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONDENSED  CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEET AT SEPTEMBER  28, 1997 AND THE CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED  SEPTEMBER  28, 1997
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STAEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>     0000097210              
<NAME>    TERADYNE, INC.      
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000 
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-28-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.00   
<CASH>                                          85,981
<SECURITIES>                                    82,459      
<RECEIVABLES>                                  259,160
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,938 
<INVENTORY>                                    223,415 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               696,867
<PP&E>                                         637,280
<DEPRECIATION>                                 336,231
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,174,378
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          231,027
<BONDS>                                         13,784
<COMMON>                                        10,473
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     905,251
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,174,378 
<SALES>                                        874,590
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               874,590
<CGS>                                          508,234
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  765,757
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,659
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                123,271
<INCOME-TAX>                                    41,912
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             81,359
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    81,359
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.94
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.94