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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                            ________________________

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

                                October 18, 2005

                            ________________________

                          LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                      0-14864                94-2778785
       (State or other            (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
 jurisdiction of incorporation)                              Identification No.)


               1630 McCarthy Boulevard, Milpitas, California 95035
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                                 (408) 432-1900
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


[]   Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the  Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[]   Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

[]   Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[]   Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

     On October 18, 2005, Linear Technology  Corporation (the "Company") entered
into an Amended and Restated Employment  Agreement with Robert H. Swanson,  Jr.,
the Executive  Chairman of the Company's  Board of Directors (the "Board").  The
amended and restated  employment  agreement was entered into in connection  with
the  previously  announced  transition  plan  whereby  Mr.  Swanson  voluntarily
resigned  from  his  employment  as  Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Company,
effective January 4, 2005, but agreed, at the request of the Board, to remain as
Executive  Chairman of the Board, with duties requiring one to two days per week
of Mr. Swanson's time. The amended and restated  employment  agreement clarifies
how Mr. Swanson's target bonus and severance are calculated and has been updated
to reflect Mr. Swanson's  transition into his role solely as Executive  Chairman
of the Board.

     Pursuant to his amended  and  restated  employment  agreement  Mr.  Swanson
continues  to receive his  existing  salary of  $405,000  per year and bonus pro
rated  based  on the  number  of full  days Mr.  Swanson  performs  services  as
Executive Chairman throughout each fiscal year, but his bonus may not exceed 50%
of the target bonus for the relevant period. In addition, Mr. Swanson's benefits
continue (excluding participation in any Company employee stock purchase plan or
401(k) plan),  and his stock options and restricted  stock now vest at twice the
rate, as if he had continued as Chief Executive Officer.

     If, in the future,  Mr.  Swanson is  involuntarily  terminated as Executive
Chairman of the Board for any reason other than cause (as defined in his amended
and restated  employment  agreement) or if he voluntarily resigns as an employee
and as Executive Chairman, then 100% of his stock options,  restricted stock and
similar  equity  awards will  immediately  vest,  and he will receive  continued
payment of one year's base salary and an annual target bonus payment (payable in
equal  installments  over twelve months)  calculated as two times the average of
Mr.  Swanson's  target bonus for the four  six-month  bonus periods prior to the
date of termination, in each case, as if Mr. Swanson had performed services on a
full time basis and with no limitation on the amount of his actual compensation.
In  addition,  the Company will pay Mr.  Swanson's  group health and dental plan
continuation  coverage  premiums  until  the  earlier  of  18  months  from  his
termination  and such time as Mr.  Swanson  and his  dependents  are  covered by
similar plans of a new employer.

     If there is a change of control of the  Company  (as defined in his amended
and restated employment agreement), Mr. Swanson will receive similar benefits to
those he is entitled to receive if he is involuntarily terminated by the Company
other than for cause or if he  voluntarily  resigns as an employee and Executive
Chairman  of the Board,  including  immediate  vesting  in full of his  options,
restricted stock and similar equity awards and payment of one year's base salary
and annual target bonus (calculated as provided above) in a lump sum within five
days of the change of control,  whether or not he is terminated without cause or
he resigns for good reason.

     If Mr. Swanson  should die while  employed by the Company,  50% of his then
unvested  stock  options,  restricted  stock and similar equity awards will vest
immediately.

     The Company has a fractional  ownership in two different  aircraft operated
by NetJets,  Inc. So long as Mr. Swanson is Executive  Chairman of the Board, he
is entitled to use the Company's  airplane for personal use for up to 35% of the
available  flight time in any year. To the extent use of the airplane results in
imputed taxable income to Mr. Swanson, the Company will make additional payments
to him, so that the net effect is the same as if no income were imputed to him.

     If payments to Mr.  Swanson under his employment  agreement  (together with
any other  payments or benefits Mr. Swanson  receives)  would trigger the excise
tax  provisions of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code,  Mr. Swanson will be paid
an additional amount so that he receives, net of the excise taxes, the amount he
would otherwise have been entitled to receive in their absence.

     The amended and  restated  employment  agreement  is filed as an exhibit to
this Current Report on Form 8-K.


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Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)  Exhibits.

Exhibit No.    Description
- -----------    -----------

10.50          Amended and Restated  Employment  Agreement,  dated as of October
               18, 2005,  between Linear  Technology  Corporation  and Robert H.
               Swanson, Jr.


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                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                               LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

                               By:   /s/ Paul Coghlan
                                  -----------------------------------
                                     Paul Coghlan
                                     Vice President, Finance and
                                     Chief Financial Officer

Date:  October 24, 2005


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.    Description
- -----------    -----------

10.50          Amended and Restated  Employment  Agreement,  dated as of October
               18, 2005,  between Linear  Technology  Corporation  and Robert H.
               Swanson, Jr.


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