<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000009263
<NAME>                        Michael Baker Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                  1000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. Dollars

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                           1
<CASH>                                4,085
<SECURITIES>                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                        62,537
<ALLOWANCES>                              0
<INVENTORY>                          28,505
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    101,037
<PP&E>                               40,031
<DEPRECIATION>                      (28,442)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      127,307
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                74,746
<BONDS>                                  67
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               0
<COMMON>                              6,477
<OTHER-SE>                           37,283
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        127,307
<SALES>                             298,407
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                    298,407
<CGS>                               255,800
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       255,800
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      784
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      12,227
<INCOME-TAX>                          5,624
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  11,777
<DISCONTINUED>                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                          6,603
<EPS-BASIC>                            0.81
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0.80