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 17, 1998, included in
the 1998 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 consent to the  incorporation  by  reference in the  Registration  Statements
(Form S-8 Nos. 33-8306,  33-27367,  33-37432,  33-40595,  33-57330 and 33-58745)
pertaining to the 1986 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 1981 Incentive Stock Option
Plan,  1988 Incentive  Stock Option Plan and 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan of
our report  dated July 17,  1998,  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 28, 1998.

                                          /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Jose, California
September 23, 1998

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