<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO
ELECTRON CORPORATION'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED JANUARY 3,
1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-03-1998
<CASH>                                         593,580
<SECURITIES>                                   929,118
<RECEIVABLES>                                  853,097
<ALLOWANCES>                                    55,698
<INVENTORY>                                    543,589
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             3,094,198
<PP&E>                                       1,159,913
<DEPRECIATION>                                 370,867
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,795,869
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,092,235
<BONDS>                                      1,742,907
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       159,206
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,838,703
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,795,869
<SALES>                                      3,392,575
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,558,320
<CGS>                                        1,973,265
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,117,008<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               193,562<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 9,078
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              93,125
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                488,467
<INCOME-TAX>                                   174,713
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            239,328
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   239,328
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.41
<FN>
<F1>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS: "COST OF
PRODUCT AND SERVICE REVENUES" AND "RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CONTRACTS".
<F2>THIS LINE IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING INCOME STATEMENT ACCOUNTS: "RESTRUCTURING
AND OTHER NONRECURRING COSTS", "INTERNALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT" AND
"OTHER EXPENSES FOR NEW LINES OF BUSINESS".
</FN>