[osandov]

I expected to see more night owls in the "Computer and mathematical" category, but it looks like we're more conventional than the average.

[Iftheshoefits]

The vast majority of computer programming is done in "stodgy", "boring" settings, like offices and for government projects, so this really shouldn't be a surprise for that field. The "work anywhere when you like, just get your 8 in" concept is relatively niche, even in the Valley "glamor" bubble.

[kyllo]

Exactly. According to Oracle there are approximately 9 million Java developers in the world, and since Java is the enterprise programming language, an awful lot of them are working 8-5 in a cubicle.

[odonnellryan]

Do you do your best work at night? I have the most fun coding at midnight with a cup of coffee. But, my work schedule doesn't permit that much...

[randlet]

I don't have numbers to back it up, but I suspect there are a huge number of programmers who work in mega-corps where the office is empty by 5pm.

[forgottenpass]

The American Time Use Survey only measures "paid work" which I assume excludes personal projects and most "night owl" activity other than being in operations/on call or having a particularly bad job.

[mhurron]

IT professionals (as a group) aren't really any different than any other group of workers.

[walshemj]

Professional "exempt" workers I think you meant to say it will be quite different to a shift worker on the line at Ford or GM

[mhurron]

No, I didn't. There are IT shift workers too.

The post I was replying to said they thought Computer and Math workers would be more night owls. Something that is really just based on the mothers basement late at night stereotype of those called geeks.

I was saying that IT workers just aren't that different than everyone else.

[walshemj]

Well the number of hourly paid tape ops or punch card operators is probably not that many any more.

And don't forget those special laws that where passed to categorise hourly paid IT workers as exempt.