[PeterStuer]

"Is it even realistic to have a 9-5 kind of structure in IT/software dev field?"

Yes, it is even the norm outside of the more exploitative environments. Most stable are the in-house dev teams in non-IT industries like financial services, retail, logistics etc.

[fma]

I think it's YMMV...I am an in house dev in somewhat of retail and manufacturing and we have major product launches every few months and there's crunch time....then supporting our marketing and retail websites can require off hours support.

We have teams outside the US, mostly business teams (non-IT) that we interact with....China, Israel, Ireland.. Even within the US in Phoenix is a 3 hour timezone difference from me on the East coast.

Another commenter said...find a company that only services the US.

Unless my company clones me (i.e. hire a part timer who does what I do, but only in Asia and west coast) I just become reasonably accommodating knowing we all work together and in the same boat to find hours that work without interfering with my life.