EXHIBIT 10.9

                      FISCAL YEAR 2003 MANAGEMENT BONUS PLAN OF
                       HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED


Hutchinson  Technology  Incorporated  ("HTI") has a  management  bonus plan that
covers  executive  officers and certain other  management-level  employees.  The
decision to pay out bonuses is made  annually by the  Compensation  Committee of
HTI's Board of Directors.  The Committee's  decision is based primarily on HTI's
attainment of quarterly  earnings per share goals throughout the fiscal year, as
well as other  factors that may be  considered  at the  Committee's  discretion.
Bonuses are paid in cash in the first quarter of the following fiscal year.