<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
 
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS AND BALANCE SHEETS OF POWERWAVE TECHNOLOGIES,
INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-03-1999             DEC-28-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-29-1997             DEC-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-28-1998             JUN-29-1997
<CASH>                                      53,133,233              42,575,890
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               14,355,568               5,761,948
<ALLOWANCES>                                   868,825                 315,000
<INVENTORY>                                  8,556,288               6,327,396
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            80,459,431              57,540,576
<PP&E>                                      13,566,645               7,982,834
<DEPRECIATION>                               3,856,294               1,693,473
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              93,389,738              64,176,111
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       15,294,878              13,744,983
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    66,031,756              39,649,130
<OTHER-SE>                                  11,024,736               9,461,555
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                93,389,738              64,176,111
<SALES>                                     43,748,964              47,602,321
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            43,748,964              47,602,321
<CGS>                                       26,362,314              28,384,868
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               38,903,762              38,664,253
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0                       0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              6,434,934               9,981,949
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,348,751               3,793,142
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          4,086,183               6,188,807
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                 4,086,183               6,188,807
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .24                     .38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .24                     .37
        

</TABLE>