<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     (Replace this text with the legend)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000015615
<NAME>                        MASTEC, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     US$
       
                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                         10,989
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  318,967
<ALLOWANCES>                                   (3,064)                        
<INVENTORY>                                    5,737
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               400,771
<PP&E>                                         95,467
<DEPRECIATION>                                 28,290
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 511,154
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          235,560
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       2,780
<OTHER-SE>                                     114,203
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   511,154
<SALES>                                        534,068
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               534,068
<CGS>                                          394,497
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  408,183
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0                        
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             11,940
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                47,586
<INCOME-TAX>                                   17,492
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            33,227
<DISCONTINUED>                                 (111)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   33,116
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.25
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.25