-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FRDULHDzhukuK0ezlkQEDW4J7SQN2rsckfD2iopXO3/TlSoBt9Zl3tOwHnGL7ebC
 mYK4jduKqOrLrI39Ow5q+g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001269246-05-000001.txt : 20050302
<SEC-HEADER>0001269246-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050302
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050302181305
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001269246-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050301
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050302
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050302

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHALEN DANIEL A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001269246

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19655
		FILM NUMBER:		05655597

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5866 OSTRANDER ROAD
		CITY:			OAKLAND
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94618
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5106258690

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TETRA TECH INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000831641
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-ENGINEERING SERVICES [8711]
		IRS NUMBER:				954148514
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3475 EAST FOOTHILL BOULEVARD
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91107
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6263514664

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3475 EAST FOOTHILL BOULEVARD
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91107
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000831641</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TETRA TECH INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TTEK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269246</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHALEN DANIEL A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5866 OSTRANDER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OAKLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94618</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options - Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-03-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option becomes exercisable in full on the first anniversary of the grant date, if the optionee has not ceased to be a director.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options are of no value, as there is no market for them and they are not traded on an exchange</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffrey D. Cornelius, For Brown Investment Advisory &amp; Trust Co., under Power of Attorney dated 1/22/99</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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