<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-02</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0000772897</issuerCik><issuerName>HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>HTCH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001008785</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>FORTUN WAYNE M</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5880</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>7.167</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>231664.6345</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5790</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>10.333</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>237454.6345</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.167</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5880</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-07-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-07-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5880</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.333</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5790</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-11-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-11-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5790</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">This Form 4 reports the total number of shares of Common Stock of the Issuer held by the reporting person as of July 2, 2003, including 703.162 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer purchased by the reporting person through the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Program between October 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Option was previously reported as covering 1,960 shares at an exercise price of $21.50 per share, but was adjusted to reflect the 3-for-1 stock split on February 11, 1997.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Option was previously reported as covering 1,930 shares at an exercise price of $31.00 per share, but was adjusted to reflect a 3-for-1 stock split on February 11, 1997.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/Wayne M. Fortun</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

