<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THERMO
ELECTRON CORPORATION'S QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE
28, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-28-1997
<CASH>                                         288,738
<SECURITIES>                                 1,004,232
<RECEIVABLES>                                  756,341
<ALLOWANCES>                                    43,647
<INVENTORY>                                    535,307
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             2,808,149
<PP&E>                                       1,105,121
<DEPRECIATION>                                 340,654
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,304,637
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,012,214
<BONDS>                                      1,601,299
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       150,235
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,591,655
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 5,304,637
<SALES>                                      1,557,373
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,638,521
<CGS>                                          912,661
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  983,618<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                94,015<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 5,221
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              42,898
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                210,545
<INCOME-TAX>                                    70,423
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            108,216
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   108,216
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .72
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .65
<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>