EXHIBIT 23.1


               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the  incorporation  by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Linear Technology  Corporation of our report dated July 18, 1997, included in
the 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders of Linear Technology Corporation.

Our audits also included the financial  statement  schedule of Linear Technology
Corporation  listed in Item 14(d).  This schedule is the  responsibility  of the
Company's  management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our
audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered  in  relation  to the basic  financial  statements  taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Form S-8 Nos. 33-8306, 33-27367, 33-37432, 33-57330 and 33-58745) pertaining to
the 1986 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1981 Incentive Stock Option Plan and 1988
Incentive Stock Option Plan of Linear Technology  Corporation and in the related
Prospectuses of our report dated July 18, 1997, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements  incorporated herein by reference,  and our report included
in the  preceding  paragraph  with respect to the financial  statement  schedule
included in the Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 29, 1997.

                                                       /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Jose, California
September 24, 1997

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