How Many Work Hours Per Week?

How many hours a week do programmers work for and how much do they get pay per hour?

• HOw many hours a week do computer programmers work for, and how much money do they get pay per hour if you were to calculate that. Is it a stressful job?

• Answer:

  Starting salaries depend on level of education and location. In fact until a programmer has at least two years experience these are the primary factors. I would recommend that you have at least a Bachelor's degree in a subject with words like computer or Information as part of the description of your major (The problem is that you have to get your resume past the Human Resources departments and into the hands of the hiring managers) In any event even in the poorest areas of the US you can expect to start at $15 to $20 per hour. If you stick with it, pick the right specialty, and become a contract programmer you can earn $125 an hour or more. If you become a manager and ultimately a CIO you could make even more. As far as hours are concerned it seems to depend on the organization for which you are working. I have been connected with companies where all of the programmers went home at 5PM sharp and others where when I walked in at 2AM (I was just checking to see if a job I had started earlier had run to completion) I found 9 programmers hard at work! In the latter type of environment it is nothing unusual for programmers to pull "all nighters". Incidentally since most programmers are on straight salary they are doing it because they love what they do. Hope this helps Jerry-the-bookkeeper