<ARTICLE>          5 
 
<LEGEND> 
The schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Zebra  
Technologies Corporation and subsidiaries consolidated balance sheets for  
September 28, 1996 and consolidated statements of earnings for September 28,  
1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND> 
 
        
                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                           3-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                       DEC-31-1996 
<PERIOD-END>                            SEP-28-1996 
<CASH>                                        4,805 
<SECURITIES>                                 81,136 
<RECEIVABLES>                                29,326 
<ALLOWANCES>                                  (292) 
<INVENTORY>                                  20,014 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            136,052 
<PP&E>                                       20,933 
<DEPRECIATION>                              (9,889) 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              150,077 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        17,448 
<BONDS>                                           0 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0 
<PREFERRED>                                       0 
<COMMON>                                        242 
<OTHER-SE>                                  129,736 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                150,077 
<SALES>                                     120,428 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            122,596 
<CGS>                                        62,546 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                63,342 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             32,374 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                306 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               16 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              30,864 
<INCOME-TAX>                                 10,640 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          20,224 
<DISCONTINUED>                                    0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0 
<CHANGES>                                         0 
<NET-INCOME>                                 20,224 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.84 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.84