<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF
HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED FOR THE TWENTY-SIX WEEKS ENDED MARCH 28,
1999, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-26-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-28-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-28-1999
<CASH>                                     243,956,000
<SECURITIES>                                45,125,000
<RECEIVABLES>                               61,312,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                 8,669,000
<INVENTORY>                                 47,282,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           418,815,000
<PP&E>                                     574,614,000
<DEPRECIATION>                             230,533,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             783,558,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       94,199,000
<BONDS>                                    215,705,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       246,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 472,227,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               783,558,000
<SALES>                                    307,641,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           307,641,000
<CGS>                                      237,666,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              237,666,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            11,046,000<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             2,579,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           5,137,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             32,002,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                 6,721,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         25,281,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                25,281,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.05
<FN>
<F1>OTHER EXPENSES REFLECT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES.
</FN>