<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001179110-03-006767
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030902
<FILING-DATE>20030903
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AUGUST TECHNOLOGY CORP
<CIK>0001063527
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3827
<IRS-NUMBER>411729485
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MN
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4900 W 78TH ST
<CITY>BLOOMINGTON
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55435
<PHONE>9528200080
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4900 WEST 78TH STREET
<CITY>BLOOMINGTON
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55435
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LAMPERT PAMELA V
<CIK>0001261012
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-30637
<FILM-NUMBER>03879462
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4900 W 78TH ST
<CITY>BLOOMINGTON
<STATE>MN
<ZIP>55435
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-09-02</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001063527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AUGUST TECHNOLOGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AUGT</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001261012</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAMPERT PAMELA V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4900 WEST 78TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLOOMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55435</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>VP, Employee Services</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.90</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>2004-09-02</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2010-09-02</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Exercisable in five annual increments of 2,000 shares beginning September 2, 2004.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Pamela V. Lampert</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-09-03</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
