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Yes, we asked 100 engineers how many hours they work a day and a week. The engineers we asked were not working in the same industry or doing similar things. The results were shocking, and they debunked many misconceptions about working as an engineer. So what are the average work hours for engineers?
On average, engineers work 44-47 hours a week, which is an average of 9.2 hours a day. Many engineers have recorded a dynamic work environment, meaning there is no fixed time to start and finish work in a day, and it is not necessarily a 5 days a week job as many recorded working super late and some on the weekend.
The data collected through online polls and the results have proven that engineers work long hours, as many have reported working overtime. See the results below:
| Engineering | Average Hours A Day | Average Hours A Week |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | 8.90 | 44.50 |
| Electrical Engineering | 9.10 | 45.50 |
| Software Engineering | 9.20 | 46.00 |
| Civil Engineering | 9.30 | 46.50 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 9.40 | 47.00 |
Mechanical and civil engineers seem to work the most hours; however, in general, the average hours seem to be very close in range. Many have reported working overtime. For many, 8-9 hours a day was the normal time, and 10 hours was the average overtime done in a day.
See average hours in a day:
However, although there were many outliers in the results, many reported working long hours, such as 12 hours a day. The average working hours a week was 46 hours. Engineers’ normal working week is 40-45 hours, and an overtime week is between 50 to 60 hours a week.
Average working hours in a week:
Those hours are still very long, and many have reported putting more hours in when they are finishing a project and working close to the deadline, which requires putting in crazy hours, such as 12 hours a day. However, normally they will work around 8 to 9 hours a day.
So how much free time do engineers get after working long hours, and can the job ever be a normal 9-5 job?
Why do engineers work long hours?
When engineers work on projects, they get busier toward the end of the project, which forces them to work overtime. Engineering projects are very complicated and require engineers to troubleshoot problems, which means working long hours.
Long work hours are somewhat an inescapable part of being an engineer. According to our survey, it is one of the big 5 worst things about engineering. To learn about the other four worst things about engineering, read: Top 5 Reasons To NOT Be An Engineer. Actual Engineer Opinion.
The survey has shown that only 51% of engineers work regular hours while the rest usually work overtime. This is because engineers work on lots of things that can be complicated to solve, making tasks time-consuming. See the results below:
| Engineers work hours | How many engineers | Working hours in the month |
|---|---|---|
| Engineers who worked 8-9 hours a week | 51 Engineers | 40-45 hours a week |
| Engineers who worked 10-11 hours a week | 39 Engineers | 50-55 hours a week |
| Engineers who worked 12+ a week | 10 Engineers | 60+ hours a week |
When engineers start a new project, such as developing software or building a skyscraper, the work hours, in the beginning, are very normal. Engineers, at the beginning of the project, always feel like they have plenty of time. In addition, many problems with the project are not yet evident, and many feel they can finish the project on time.
However, because of the nature of engineering work and its difficulty, many problems start surfacing toward the end of the project. This usually forces engineers to work more hours to finish the project on time. This cycle happens in every project and almost always forces the engineers to work overtime.
Do engineers work on weekends?
Some engineers work on weekends. Some jobs require engineers to be present on a project. For example, in construction, civil engineers are required to work on weekends if there are works on the weekend. Some software engineers also work on weekends, especially in data centres and cloud services, where technical support is required seven days a week.
When engineers work on weekends or on a rotating roster, engineers get days off during the week, so they do not overwork themselves.
Do engineers only work 9-5?
The concept of 9-5 in engineering is almost non-existing. For many jobs work hours are more flexible, this means engineers can start very early or late and finish before or after 5. This flexible work environment suits engineers, especially those with families and kids.
Do engineers work at night?
Many engineers work at night. This is also due to the project requirements and the nature of the work. Engineers need to be present for technical support. Working at night is not easy and has many challenges. To learn more, read: Night Shift Engineer: 3 Tips For Better Adaptation.
Do engineers have free time?
Despite the long work hours, engineers get a lot of free time. Many engineering companies are quite understanding of the nature of the work, and engineers usually get at least two weeks off paid vacation annually and many other benefits such as salary compensation which help engineers cop with the demanding job.
Do engineers have a social life?
Engineers have a social life. Many engineers have normal and modest lives. Engineering work usually pays well and provides a reasonable living which provides a lot of opportunities to pursue other things outside work. For more reading on this topic, read: Are Engineers Introverts?
Summary: How Many Hours Do Engineers Work
On average, engineers work 9 hours a day and 45 hours a week which are quite normal compared to other professions. However, many engineers usually work long hours, such as 12+ hours a day, when they are close to a project deadline and solving complex problems.
