Contact:  Paul Coghlan                                   6:30 EDT
          Vice President, Finance                        Tuesday, April 15, 2003
          (408) 432-1900                                 US1

LINEAR  TECHNOLOGY  REPORTS  IMPROVED SALES AND PROFITS BOTH OVER THE PRIOR YEAR
AND PRIOR QUARTER

               Milpitas,   California,   April  15,  2003,   Linear   Technology
Corporation   (NASDAQ-LLTC),   a  leading,   independent  manufacturer  of  high
performance linear integrated  circuits,  today announced that net sales for its
third quarter ended March 30, 2003, were  $153,750,000,  an increase of 18% over
net sales of  $130,155,000  for the third  quarter  of the  previous  year.  The
Company also reported net income for the quarter of $60,622,000 or $0.19 diluted
earnings  per  share,  an  increase  of 18% from  $51,480,000  or $0.16  diluted
earnings per share reported for the third quarter of last year.

               The Company is increasing  its  quarterly  dividend from $0.05 to
$0.06 per share.  The payment will be on May 14, 2003 to  stockholders of record
on April 25,  2003.  For the  quarter the Company  generated  approximately  $16
million  in  additional  cash  and  short-term  investments,   net  of  spending
approximately $39 million to purchase 1,500,000 shares of its common stock.

               During the quarter,  the Company entered into a patent  portfolio
cross licensing and royalty agreement with Texas Instruments, Inc. for a 10 year
period, which terminates existing  litigation.  The amortization expense for the
royalty  to be  incurred  is not  expected  to  have a  material  effect  on the
Company's financial condition or results of operations.

               According  to Robert H.  Swanson,  Chairman of the Board and CEO,
"This was a good  quarter  for us as we grew  sales 6% and  profits  8% over the
previous quarter.  We continue to be strongly  profitable as demonstrated by our
39%  return on sales.  We focus our  efforts on unique  high-performance  analog
intensive,  market  opportunities  often  in  the  newest  generation  end  user
products.  This  enables us to  achieve  good  financial  results  during  these
difficult  economic and geo-political  times.  However,  accurately  forecasting
short-term results remains a



challenge.  Nevertheless,  we  had  good  momentum  in  the  March  quarter  and
consequently  estimate  that sales and  profits for the June  quarter  will grow
sequentially in the mid to high single digits, 5% to 8%."

               Except for historical  information  contained herein, the matters
set forth in this news release are forward-looking statements that are dependent
on certain risks and uncertainties  including such factors, among others, as new
orders  received  and  shipped  during  the  quarter,   timely  ramp-up  of  new
facilities, and the timely introduction of new processes and products.

               Company  officials  will be  discussing  these results in greater
detail in a conference  call  tomorrow,  Wednesday,  April 16, 2003 at 8:30 a.m.
Pacific Coast Time. Those investors wishing to listen in may call (913) 981-5508
before 8:15 a.m. to be included in the audience. There will be a live webcast of
this  conference   call  that  can  be  accessed   through   www.linear.com   or
www.streetevents.com.  A replay of the  conference  call will be available  from
April 16 through April 23, 2003.  You may access this post view by calling (719)
457-0820 and entering  reservation  #580847. An archive of the webcast will also
be available at  www.linear.com  and  www.streetevents.com  as of April 16, 2003
until the third quarter earnings release next year.

               Linear   Technology   Corporation   was  founded  in  1981  as  a
manufacturer of high performance linear integrated  circuits.  Linear Technology
products include  operational,  instrumentation  and audio  amplifiers;  voltage
regulators,  power management devices,  DC-DC converters and voltage references;
comparators;  monolithic filters;  communications  interface circuits;  one-chip
data  acquisition   sub-systems;   pulse-width  modulators  and  sample-and-hold
devices;  and high frequency devices.  Applications for Linear Technology's high
performance   circuits   include   wireless  and  broadband   telecommunications
infrastructure,  cellular telephones, networking products and satellite systems,
notebook  and  desk  top  computers,  computer  peripherals,   video/multimedia,
industrial  and  medical   instrumentation,   automotive  electronics,   factory
automation,  process control,  military and space systems, and high-end consumer
products including digital cameras, MP3 players and other electronic products.

               For further information contact Paul Coghlan at Linear Technology
Corporation,   1630  McCarthy  Blvd.,  Milpitas,  California  95035-7417,  (408)
432-1900.



                          LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                                   (unaudited)



                                                                       Three Months Ended                     Nine Months Ended
                                                                   March 30,          March 31,          March 30,         March 31,
                                                                     2003               2002               2003              2002
                                                                   --------           --------           --------          ---------
                                                                                                                
Net sales                                                          $153,750           $130,155           $440,806           $371,525

Cost of sales                                                        39,390             34,518            114,611            107,898
                                                                   --------           --------           --------           --------

      Gross profit                                                  114,360             95,637            326,195            263,627
                                                                   --------           --------           --------           --------

Expenses:

      Research & development                                         22,609             20,127             67,014             58,318

      Selling, general and administrative                            15,916             15,565             49,345             45,870
                                                                   --------           --------           --------           --------

                                                                     38,525             35,692            116,359            104,188
                                                                   --------           --------           --------           --------

      Operating income                                               75,835             59,945            209,836            159,439

      Interest income                                                 9,548             12,562             30,427             41,399
                                                                   --------           --------           --------           --------

Income before income taxes                                           85,383             72,507            240,263            200,838

Provision for income taxes                                           24,761             21,027             69,676             58,243
                                                                   --------           --------           --------           --------

Net income                                                         $ 60,622           $ 51,480           $170,587           $142,595
                                                                   ========           ========           ========           ========

Basic earnings per share                                           $   0.19           $   0.16           $   0.54           $   0.45
                                                                   ========           ========           ========           ========

Shares used in the                                                  312,782            317,136            313,184            317,359
     calculation of basic                                          ========           ========           ========           ========
     earnings per share


Diluted earnings per share                                         $   0.19           $   0.16           $   0.53           $   0.43
                                                                   ========           ========           ========           ========

Shares used in the                                                  320,842            328,526            321,217            329,026
     calculation of diluted                                        ========           ========           ========           ========
     earnings per share




                          LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
                      CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Dollars in thousands)

                                                    March 30,          June 30,
                                                      2003              2002
                                                   (unaudited)        (audited)
                                                   ----------         ----------

ASSETS

Current assets:
        Cash, cash equivalents and
        short-term investments                     $1,565,181         $1,552,030

        Accounts receivable, net of
               allowance for doubtful
               accounts of $1,662 ($1,302
               at June 30, 2002)                       83,600             81,447

        Inventories                                    31,366             28,942

        Deferred tax assets and other
               current assets                          61,456             65,162
                                                   ----------         ----------

        Total current assets                        1,741,603          1,727,581
                                                   ----------         ----------

Property, plant & equipment,
        net                                           232,991            260,852
                                                   ----------         ----------

Other non-current assets                               57,099                 --
                                                   ----------         ----------

                                                   $2,031,693         $1,988,433
                                                   ==========         ==========

                                                    March 30,           June 30,
                                                      2003               2002
                                                   (unaudited)         (audited)
                                                   ----------         ----------

     LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS ' EQUITY

     Current liabilities:

          Accounts payable                         $    7,160         $    5,098

          Accrued income taxes, payroll &
                other accrued liabilities              83,532            117,731

          Deferred income on shipments
                to distributors                        44,926             46,168
                                                   ----------         ----------

                   Total current liabilities          135,618            168,997
                                                   ----------         ----------

     Deferred tax and other long-term
          liabilities                                  97,461             37,982

     Stockholders' equity:

          Common stock                                704,495            672,916
          Retained earnings                         1,080,319          1,108,538
          Accumulated other
            comprehensive income                       13,800                 --
                                                   ----------         ----------
                   Total stockholders' equity       1,798,614          1,781,454
                                                   ----------         ----------

                                                   $2,031,693         $1,988,433
                                                   ==========         ==========