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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 DuZu04KtROA/zoswoCDl0w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000857005-04-000010.txt : 20040304
<SEC-HEADER>0000857005-04-000010.hdr.sgml : 20040304
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040304163313
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000857005-04-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040303
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040304

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000857005
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				042866152
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		140 KENDRICK STREET
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02494
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7813705000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		140 KENDRICK STREET
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02494

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARX OSCAR B III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182627

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18059
		FILM NUMBER:		04649193

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SMTEK INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		200 SCIENCE DR
		CITY:			MOORPARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93021-2003
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8055322800X187

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SMTEK INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		200 SCIENCE DR
		CITY:			MOORPARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93021-2003
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000857005</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PMTC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182627</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARX OSCAR B III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SMTEK INTERNATIONAL INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 SCIENCE DR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOORPARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93021-2003</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-03-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>395000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of reporting person of an option to buy 25,000 shares of common stock, exercisable in four annual increments of 6,250 shares each beginning on March 3, 2005, the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Oscar B. Marx</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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