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How long do computer scientists work per day

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Janet’s Answer

This varies widely and can be different from company to company and from week to week. A job that a computer scientist holds is typically a salaried position, not where you get paid hourly. You could work weeks where you put in 36-40 hours and other weeks, close to deadline, where you work 60-80 hours. The pay is typically the same each week. I have always worked at companies where I mostly had normal working hours (8-10 hours a day including time for lunch and breaks) and periods of time, usually no more than 12 weeks a year, where the hours were closer to 60+ hours/week. This is mainly during times when a project deadline or release was approaching. nights and weekends could be required to get the job done. At times, the management would grant compensation time off after several weeks of overtime work or I could request it. If you land a position where you are routinely (most of the time) working 60-80 hours a week in a salaried position, this is known as a "sweatshop" and you should look for another job before you burnout or have a breakdown. This is not fair to you or your loved ones. Look for a better company that treats their employees better. All professionals should expect to put in some extra time to make it to a deadline, but life at some point should settle down to a normal pace. Hope this helps. A career in Computer Science can be lucrative, interesting *and* manageable (work/life balance). Computer Science graduates are in high demand. Best of luck!
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Nervan’s Answer

Well, as for me it totally depends on the work I have been provided. Somedays its just 1-2hrs, somedays its even 8-9hrs. You basically are provided with weekly tasks, so you have the flexibility. you can work less for few days, then you automatically have to do more work the other days. totally depends on how you want to break down the tasks
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Adelyn’s Answer

Hi Hunter! Depends on your job and the company, but I think it would be very possible to find a job in this field that would only expect 40 hours a week, like Cisco :). If work-life balance is important to you, you should be able to find a company that supports you in this goal.
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Brian’s Answer

I agree with Janet's answer. Also, the number of hours is not the only consideration. You can also expect to work more odd-hours earlier in your career (on-call, production support, etc). Consider whether the employer allows you to work from home or to have more flexibility on when you work. Lastly, this is partially up to you. If you are more ambitious, really enjoy the work, etc, you may voluntary work more hours. I agree with what Janet said about burn-out. Make sure to keep it in check and not let volunteer efforts become expected. Keep a good boundary between non-work hours/vacation and work. This problem can happen when working at home more easily.

Brian recommends the following next steps:

Review glassdoor and other sites for employee feedback of companies.
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