<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-04-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000906193</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KEY TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KTEC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001416442</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Schreyer Leslie J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHADBOURNE &amp; PARKE LLP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>LESLIE SCHREYER, 1301 AVE OF AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-04-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2842</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.9986</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>779221</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were purchased in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $12.99 to $13.00, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Key Technology, Inc., any security holder of Key Technology, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price within the ranges set forth in footnote (1) to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Leslie J. Schreyer, as Trustee under Trust Agreement dated December 23, 1989 FBO the issue of Jonathan D. Sackler (the &quot;Trust&quot;) also reports beneficial ownership pursuant to Rule 13d of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to a Schedule 13G filed jointly by the Trust, M3C Holdings LLC and Robert Averick, with the Issuer on June 21, 2012, as amended by a Schedule 13G Amendment No. 1 filed with Issuer on February 14, 2013, a Schedule 13G Amendment No. 2 filed with the Issuer on February 14, 2014, a Schedule 13G Amendment No. 3 filed with the Issuer on April 15, 2014, and a Schedule 13G Amendment No. 4 filed with the Issuer on February 17, 2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares held in the Trust, for which Leslie J. Schreyer serves as sole Trustee.  Leslie J. Schreyer has no pecuniary interest in the shares held by the Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The Power of Attorney given by Leslie J. Schreyer, in his capacity as trustee under Trust Agreement dated December 23, 1989 FBO the issue of Jonathan D. Sackler, was previously filed with the U.S. Securities &amp; Exchange Commission on June 21, 2012 as an exhibit to a Schedule 13G filed by the Trust, M3C Holdings LLC and Robert Averick, with respect to the Issuer and is hereby incorporated by reference.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Frank S. Vellucci, Attorney-in-Fact for Leslie J. Schreyer, in his capacity as trustee under Trust Agreement dated December 23, 1989 FBO the issue of Jonathan D. Sackler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-04-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
