I understand that there comes times where there are major projects and all, but on average, how much free time do they earn? Do they have enough time for hobbies, exercising, etc.?
It depends on the company and the job. SpaceX is known for working their employees insane hours. At the other end, government or FFRDCs will often be close to 40 hour work weeks. Large contractors tend to fall somewhere in the middle.
Most at Space X however find the work so fulfilling that the hours aren’t a burden. I’ve read reports of engineers seriously struggling with leaving for a job with half the hours and twice the pay because they like it that much. If it was simply a matter of compelled long hours from an under appreciating employer, they’d have massive turn over and it would be easy to get a job there. Neither are true.
@eyemgh I don’t think that’s true about SpaceX. SpaceX does have pretty large turnover, and I’ve heard the opposite–most engineers working there burn out after a little over a year and end up going elsewhere. In fact, SpaceX recently settled after a lawsuit initiated by a number of former employees was brought against the company for mistreatment of employees, specifically with regard to compensation and breaks/time off (or a lack thereof).
They do have lots of employees and I read the accounts of only a few. Suffice it to say, whether the employees enjoy it or they’re driven like slaves, their work/life balance is probably well outside the norm.
Most people I know that have worked at SpaceX have enjoyed it, but the work schedule takes a toll on most of them and the turnover rate is high. Many work there for a few years, make a nice paycheck working on cool things, and then move on to other jobs that are less demanding but now must offer them more money to “lure” them away from SpaceX.
At any rate, SpaceX is not the norm in terms of work-life balance. I also wouldn’t say that most large contractors fall somewhere between that and a standard 40 hour week, as they mostly are going to land much closer to that 40 hours than to SpaceX hours. My dad has worked at one of them for something like 35 years now and generally doesn’t put in much more than 40 hours per week.
If it is a government job or a govt contract, overtime has to be paid. Sometimes that overtime isn’t in the budget so it’s a 40 hour week.
Not sure where you got your info that OT must be paid fgor govt contractors. I worked many unpaid OT hours on govt contracts. My daughter’s experience is similar.
I had many weeks of 40 hours only. When you fall behind or run into problems, then the extra hours are needed. It varies company to company, project to project and even task to task.
My life advice is to have a work/life balance. Use your twenties to date or to travel or to pick up a hobby that you enjoy. Don’t spend every waking hour at your job!
The culture at SpaceX is very interesting. You look out over the bays and see a field of young people. Folks older than say 35 are rare. There is an attitude that the quality and timeliness of the work supersedes decorum and tact; I’ve attended briefings by guys wearing shorts and flip flops. Also, employment at SpaceX is unstable relative to the rest of the industry. On one occasion that I’m aware of a mistake by an engineer led to Musk telling the guy to clear out his desk that day.
Regarding overtime pay, IME you only get it when the budget for it exists and when program management pushes for its approval. You work as many hours as necessary to meet deadlines, whether you get paid extra or not.
Work/life balance can be a problem when there are big technical issues to resolve, under strict deadlines.
40-hour work weeks are more typical though. And some companies have “alternate work weeks,” in which you work 9 hours each day, but get every other Friday off.