SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 11-K



 Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001



                         Commission file number 33-14058



A.   Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that
     of the issuer named below:

             Michael Baker Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan


B.   Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address
     of its principal executive office:

             Michael Baker Corporation
             Airport Office Park, Building 3
             420 Rouser Road
             Coraopolis, PA  15108






MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000







MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                         PAGE

Report of Independent Accountants                                          1


Financial Statements:

    Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
      December 31, 2001 and 2000                                           2

    Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
      Years Ended December 31, 2001 and 2000                               3


    Notes to Financial Statements                                         4-9

Additional Information:*

    Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
      December 31, 2001                                                   10

    Schedule of Reportable Transactions
      Year Ended December 31, 2001                                        11



*  Other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor's
   Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under ERISA have been
   omitted because they are not applicable.







                        REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


To the Participants and Administrator
of the Michael Baker Corporation
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits
and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits
present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits
of the Michael Baker Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the Plan) at
December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the changes in net assets available for benefits
for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Plan's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our
audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America, which require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the our opinion.

Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of Assets
(Held at End of Year) and Reportable Transactions are presented for the purpose
of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial
statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of
Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the
responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedules have been
subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic
financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material
respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.




/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
------------------------------
Pittsburgh, PA
July 26, 2002







MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                                    2001                 2000
                                                                               
                           ASSETS

Investments, at fair value:
   Investments in common stock of
     Michael Baker Corporation                                 $ 49,517,528          $ 26,688,174
   Investments in mutual funds                                   67,399,289            72,438,934
   Participant loans (market value approximates cost)               388,974               328,618
                                                               ------------          ------------

       Total investments                                        117,305,791            99,455,726
                                                               ------------          ------------

         Total assets                                           117,305,791            99,455,726
                                                               ------------          ------------

                        LIABILITIES

Accounts payable                                                       --                   2,667
                                                               ------------          ------------

       Total liabilities                                               --                   2,667
                                                               ------------          ------------

Net assets available for benefits                              $117,305,791          $ 99,453,059
                                                               ============          ============





   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


                                      - 2 -







MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                                                2001                   2000

                                                                                           
Additions to net assets attributed to:
   Investment income:
     Interest and dividends                                                $   1,425,653          $   6,246,320
     Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments             10,044,226            (10,416,883)
                                                                           -------------          -------------

         Total investment income (loss)                                       11,469,879             (4,170,563)
                                                                           -------------          -------------

   Participant contributions                                                  10,187,194              9,552,169
   Employer contributions                                                      4,513,439              4,668,605
                                                                           -------------          -------------

         Total contributions                                                  14,700,633             14,220,774
                                                                           -------------          -------------

         Total additions                                                      26,170,512             10,050,211
                                                                           -------------          -------------

Deductions from net assets attributed to:
   Participant withdrawals                                                     8,314,583              8,356,853
   Transfers out of Plan                                                            --                3,860,832
   Administrative fees                                                             3,197                 26,117
                                                                           -------------          -------------

         Total deductions                                                      8,317,780             12,243,802
                                                                           -------------          -------------

Net increase (decrease)                                                       17,852,732             (2,193,591)
                                                                           -------------          -------------

Net assets available for benefits:
   Beginning of year                                                          99,453,059            101,646,650
                                                                           -------------          -------------

   End of year                                                             $ 117,305,791          $  99,453,059
                                                                           =============          =============






   The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

                                      - 3 -








MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1.    DESCRIPTION OF PLAN

      GENERAL
      The following description of the Michael Baker Employee Stock Ownership
      Plan (the ESOP, or the Plan) provides only general information.
      Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete
      description of the Plan's provisions.

      The ESOP is a defined contribution plan that provides all eligible
      employees of Michael Baker Corporation (the Company) with an opportunity
      to accumulate additional retirement benefits as well as invest in Company
      stock. The Plan is subject to provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
      Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA).

      PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS
      Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution
      and allocations of (a) the Company's contribution and (b) Plan earnings or
      losses, and charged with an allocation of certain administrative fees.
      Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as
      defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit
      that can be provided from the participant's vested account.

      CONTRIBUTIONS
      Participants contribute to the ESOP through a Section 401(k) Employee
      Salary Redirection Election, whereby participants may choose to have a
      percentage of their salaries (including commissions and overtime) withheld
      and contributed to the ESOP up to the lower of 18% of the participant's
      salary or the annual limitation established by the Internal Revenue
      Service in both 2001 and 2000. The maximum amount of a participant's
      salary which may be eligible for withholding for any Plan year cannot
      exceed $170,000. The ESOP also allows participants to roll over funds from
      a previous employer's tax-qualified plan or tax-qualified individual
      retirement account. Effective January 1, 2002, the Plan participants may
      choose to contribute up to the lower of 50% of their salaries or the
      annual limitation established by the Internal Revenue Service.

      COMPANY MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS
      Under the provisions of the Plan, the Company will make a matching
      contribution to the participants' accounts in an amount of 100% of the
      first 5% and 50% of the next 1% of eligible salary (including commissions
      but excluding overtime) contributed by each participant. Contribution
      amounts over the 6% limit are not required to be matched by the Company.
      The Company's matching contributions are invested in not less than 25% of
      Michael Baker Corporation Common Stock or Series B Common Stock with the
      remaining 75% invested in accordance with the participants' investment
      elections for participant contributions.

      The Board of Directors of the Company is authorized to make additional
      discretionary contributions to the ESOP from time to time. However, no
      discretionary contributions were made in 2001 or 2000.


                                     - 4 -



MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


      VESTING
      Participants are vested immediately in their contributions plus actual
      earnings thereon. All amounts in the participants' ESOP accounts that are
      attributable to the transfer of funds from a previously terminated
      retirement plan, the rollover from a previous employer's tax-qualified
      plan, and participant contributions are 100% vested and nonforfeitable at
      all times.

      All Company matching contributions will become 100% vested upon attainment
      of 3 years of service with the Company or earlier, upon attainment of
      normal retirement date, disability or death. If a participant leaves
      employment with the Company before attaining a vested interest in his or
      her Company contribution, the contributions are forfeited and will reduce
      future Company matching contributions.

      DISTRIBUTIONS
      The Plan provides for distribution of benefits upon retirement, total and
      permanent disability, death, or termination of employment for any other
      reason. The amount of distribution the participant or his or her
      beneficiary is entitled to is based on the vesting requirements discussed
      above. All distributions will be made in the form of a single, lump-sum
      distribution or in substantially equal annual installments over a period
      not exceeding 5 years. Distributions may be made in cash and/or shares of
      common stock, at the discretion of the participant.

      PARTICIPANT LOANS
      A participant may borrow money from the portion of his or her account
      attributable to his or her own 401(k) plan contributions. Participant
      loans may be obtained in the sole event of immediate and heavy financial
      need, where the participant lacks other available resources. Loan amounts
      shall not exceed the lesser of: (a) 50% of the participant's account
      attributable to his or her own contributions, including rollovers, (b)
      $50,000 adjusted for pre-existing loans, or (c) such amount as may be
      determined by the plan administrator. All loans will be drawn against the
      participant's account among the respective investment options as directed,
      and are secured by the assets within the participant's accounts. Interest
      rates on outstanding notes receivable ranged from 9.5% to 10.5% at
      December 31, 2000 and 6% to 10.5% at December 31, 2001.

      FORFEITED ACCOUNTS
      At December 31, 2001 and 2000, forfeited nonvested accounts totaled
      $68,168 and $89,621, respectively. These accounts will be used to reduce
      future employer contributions. Also, in 2001 and 2000, employer
      contributions were reduced by $829,880 and $296,245, respectively, from
      forfeited nonvested accounts.

      COMMON STOCK
      The ESOP enables participating employees to acquire an equity interest in
      Michael Baker Corporation (the Company); as such, contributions to the
      ESOP can be invested in the Company's common stock (Common Stock and
      Series B Common Stock).

      The ESOP's investment in the Company's Common Stock comprises 2,038,031
      shares (cost of $14,232,668) and 2,220,159 shares (cost of $14,065,803) at
      December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.



                                     - 5 -



MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The ESOP's investment in the Company's Series B Common Stock comprises
      1,217,221 shares (cost of $7,401,968) and 1,223,477 shares (cost of
      $7,436,107) at December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

      INVESTMENT OPTIONS
      Each participant may direct Putnam Investments, Inc. (Putnam) to invest
      certain portions of his or her account in investment funds. Investment
      funds available to participants are the Michael Baker Common Stock Fund
      (invests in common stock of the Company), the Putnam New Opportunities
      Fund (invests in long-term growth stocks within emerging industries), the
      Putnam International Growth Fund (invests in diversified corporate stocks
      outside of North America), the Putnam Voyager Fund (invests in diversified
      corporate stocks), the Putnam Money Market Fund (invests in short-term
      money market securities), the Putnam Investors Fund (invests in large
      capitalization stocks), the Putnam S&P 500 Index Fund (invests with the
      objective of achieving a return that approximates the return of the S&P
      500 Composite Stock Price Index), the AIM Balance Fund (invests in equity
      and fixed-income securities), the MFS Massachusetts Investors Trust
      (invests primarily in common stock, seeking current income and long-term
      growth of capital and income), the PIMCO Total Return Fund (invests in
      debt securities, seeking a total return consistent with the preservation
      of capital), the Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund (invests in equity
      securities of small companies, seeking long-term capital growth) and the
      Putnam Asset Allocation Funds (includes the Growth Portfolio, which
      invests with the goal of seeking maximum growth of an investment over
      time, the Balanced Portfolio, which invests with the goal of seeking a
      total return for investors in their peak accumulation years and the
      Conservative Portfolio, which invests primarily in domestic fixed-income
      securities).

      PLAN ADMINISTRATION AND FEES
      The Company provides certain administrative and accounting services to the
      ESOP at no cost. In addition, the Company pays the cost of services
      provided to the ESOP by Putnam, legal counsel and independent accountants.
      Certain reasonable distribution and loan processing fees charged by Putnam
      are deducted from the respective participant account balances.

      TRANSFERS OUT OF PLAN
      In connection with the sale of Baker Heavy & Highway and Baker Support
      Services, Inc. during 2000, $3.9 million was transferred out of the Plan
      to other qualifying plans.


2.    SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      BASIS OF ACCOUNTING
      Putnam Investments, Inc. (Putnam) performs the recordkeeping function for
      the ESOP and the records are maintained on a cash basis. The financial
      statements included herein include all adjustments to reflect the
      financial statements on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with
      accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

      Certain plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Putnam.
      These transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.

      INVESTMENTS
      Investments are stated at fair value based upon quoted market values.
      Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. The
      investment in common stock of the Company is



                                     - 6 -


MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


      stated at publicly-traded closing market values as of December 31, 2001
      and 2000. As of December 31, 2001 and 2000, the ESOP owned approximately
      39% and 40%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of the Company's
      common stock; therefore, such valuation might be subject to significant
      fluctuation in the event of a substantial liquidation of such holdings by
      the ESOP.

      The difference between the cost and current market value of investments
      purchased since the beginning of the period and the increase or decrease
      in such stated market value of investments held at the beginning of the
      period reported is included in the net depreciation in fair market value
      of investments in the statements of changes in net assets available for
      benefits.

      CONTRIBUTIONS
      Employee and employer contributions are recorded in the period during
      which the Company makes payroll deductions from Plan participants'
      earnings.

      DISTRIBUTIONS
      Distributions to participants are recorded when paid.

      USE OF ESTIMATES
      The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
      accepted accounting principles requires management to make certain
      estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets,
      liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and
      liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

      CONCENTRATION OF RISK
      Investments are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market
      and credit. Due to the level of risk associated with these investments and
      the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of these
      investments, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the near
      term could materially affect participants' account balances and the
      amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits and
      the statements of changes in net assets available for benefits.


                                     - 7 -


3.    INVESTMENTS

      The following presents the fair value of investments that represent 5% or
      more of the Plan's net assets at the end of either December 31, 2001 or
      2000:



                                                               DECEMBER 31,
                                                        2001                 2000
                                                                   
      Michael Baker Common Stock*                   $31,015,773          $17,206,232
      Michael Baker Series B Common Stock*           18,501,755            9,481,942
      Putnam New Opportunities Fund                  14,883,585           18,251,044
      Putnam Voyager Fund                            11,543,018           13,721,862
      Putnam International Growth Fund                5,825,878            6,200,048
      AIM Balanced Fund                               7,313,919            8,481,429
      MFS Massachusetts Investors Trust              12,786,204           15,546,456


      *Includes nonparticipant-directed investments


      The Plan's investments (including gains and losses on investments bought
      and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in value by
      $10,044,226 and depreciated in value by $(10,416,883) for the respective
      years ended December 31, as follows:



                                                       2001                   2000
                                                                    
      Mutual funds                                 $(14,912,442)          $(14,312,270)
      Common stock                                   24,956,668              3,895,387
                                                   ------------           ------------
                                                   $ 10,044,226           $(10,416,883)
                                                   ============           ============




4.    NONPARTICIPANT-DIRECTED INVESTMENTS

      Information about the net assets and the significant components of the
      changes in net assets relating to investments having
      nonparticipant-directed components is as follows:



                                                                DECEMBER 31,
                                                          2001                2000
                                                                     
      Net assets:
        Common stock                                  $49,517,528          $26,685,507
                                                      -----------          -----------
                                                      $49,517,528          $26,685,507
                                                      ===========          ===========



                                     - 8 -





                                                                                           
Net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2000                                     $ 26,685,507
Changes in net assets:
   Contributions                                                                                 2,028,767
   Interest and dividends                                                                           14,097
   Net appreciation in fair value of investment                                                 24,956,668
   Benefits paid to participants                                                                (2,960,917)
   Transfers to participant-directed investments                                                (1,206,531)
   Fees                                                                                                (63)
                                                                                              -------------
Net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 2001                                     $ 49,517,528
                                                                                              =============


5.    TAX STATUS

      The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a
      letter dated June 21, 2000, that the Plan and related trust are designed
      in accordance with the applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code
      (IRC). The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter.
      However, the plan administrator and the Plan's counsel believe that the
      Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with
      applicable requirements of the IRC. In 2002, the Company filed for a new
      determination letter for the Plan.


6.    PLAN TERMINATION

      Although it has not expressed an intention to do so, the Company has the
      right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to
      terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of
      Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts.


7.    SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

      During the fourth quarter of 2001, the Company entered into discussions
      with the ESOP Trustee concerning the possible exchange of its Series B
      Common Stock for Common Stock. The Trustee retained a valuation
      professional and subsequently agreed that the ESOP would be willing to
      exchange each Series B share held by the ESOP for 1.018 shares of Common
      Stock. This exchange was completed on February 28, 2002. Immediately
      following this exchange, the Company's remaining Series B shares were
      automatically converted into Common equivalents in accordance with
      provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation.



                                     - 9 -




MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
DECEMBER 31, 2001
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                                                   COST OF           CURRENT
           IDENTITY OF ISSUER                   DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT           ASSET             VALUE

                                                                                            
Michael Baker Corporation*             Michael Baker Corporation
                                           Common Stock**                          $14,232,668        $31,015,773

Michael Baker Corporation*             Michael Baker Corporation
                                           Common Stock - Series B**                 7,401,968         18,501,755

AIM Management Group Inc.              AIM Balanced Fund                                                7,313,918

MFS Investment Management Inc.         MFS Massachusetts Investors Trust                               12,786,204

PIMCO Funds Distributors LLC           PIMCO Total Return Fund                                          3,702,743

Putnam Investments*                    Putnam Voyager Fund                                             11,543,018

Putnam Investments*                    Putnam New Opportunities Fund                                   14,883,585

Putnam Investments*                    Putnam International Growth Fund                                 5,825,878

Putnam Investments*                    Putnam Money Market Fund                                         5,559,759

Putnam Investments*                    Putnam Asset Allocation -
                                           Growth Portfolio                                               598,757

Putnam Investments*                    Putnam Asset Allocation -
                                           Balanced Portfolio                                             825,584

Putnam Investments*                    Putnam Asset Allocation -
                                           Conservative Portfolio                                         393,362

Franklin Templeton Investments         Franklin Small Cap Growth Fund                                   1,173,462

Putnam Investments*                    Putnam Investors Fund                                            1,096,706

Putnam Investments*                    Putnam S&P 500 Index Fund                                        1,696,313

Participant Loans*                     6% to 10.5%, due February 22, 2002
                                         to December 14, 2015                                             388,974
                                                                                                     ------------

                                                                                                     $117,305,791
                                                                                                     ------------



  * Party-in-interest.
 ** Includes nonparticipant-directed investments.



                                     - 10 -



MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                           NUMBER                                          NET
    PARTY                      DESCRIPTION                   OF           PURCHASE        SELLING          GAIN
   INVOLVED                     OF ASSET                TRANSACTIONS       PRICE           PRICE          (LOSS)
                                                                                
Putnam                 Michael Baker                        241         $ 4,151,790      $             $
Investments, Inc.*     Corporation Common Stock**           418         $                $5,639,340    $1,974,602





  * Party-in-interest.
** Nonparticipant directed.

                                     - 11 -



                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Senior
Vice President, Corporate Controller and Treasurer of Michael Baker Corporation,
the plan sponsor, has duly caused this annual report to be signed by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                    MICHAEL BAKER CORPORATION
                                    EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

Date:    August 2, 2002             By:  /s/ Craig O. Stuver
                                        ------------------------------
                                        Craig O. Stuver
                                        Senior Vice President, Corporate
                                        Controller and Treasurer of Michael
                                        Baker Corporation, the Plan Sponsor