<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 DECEMBER
28, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-28-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-28-1996
<CASH>                                         414,404
<SECURITIES>                                 1,431,881
<RECEIVABLES>                                  650,866
<ALLOWANCES>                                    34,321
<INVENTORY>                                    432,960
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             3,131,829
<PP&E>                                       1,010,189
<DEPRECIATION>                                 305,742
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,141,244
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          913,212
<BONDS>                                      1,550,342
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       149,997
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,604,372
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,141,244
<SALES>                                      2,766,002
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,932,558
<CGS>                                        1,657,746
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,802,569<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               194,275<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 6,002
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              96,695
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                301,661
<INCOME-TAX>                                   110,845
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            190,816
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   190,816
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.17
<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>