<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-19</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000772897</issuerCik><issuerName>HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>HTCH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0000903590</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>GREEN JEFFREY W</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>40 WEST HIGHLAND PARK DRIVE NE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>HUTCHINSON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>55350</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman of the Board</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-19</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value>E</value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8693.0000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>246270.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>133800.0000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By IRA</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/Jeffrey W. Green</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

