<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAIN SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO
ELECTRON CORPORATION'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER
30, 1995 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-30-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-30-1995
<CASH>                                         462,861
<SECURITIES>                                   593,802
<RECEIVABLES>                                  522,631
<ALLOWANCES>                                    29,318
<INVENTORY>                                    332,786
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,056,592
<PP&E>                                         977,816
<DEPRECIATION>                                 262,228
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,786,339
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          739,446
<BONDS>                                      1,118,077
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        89,006
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,220,723
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 3,786,339
<SALES>                                      2,075,748
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,270,291
<CGS>                                        1,239,762
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,406,882<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               156,634<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 5,534
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              77,861
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                298,808
<INCOME-TAX>                                    98,711
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            190,816
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   190,816
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.10
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .95
<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>