I have a lot of friends/family that have recently been entry level lawyers or medical residents. It is absolutely ridiculous the hours these people are expected to work, somewhere in the neighborhood of 80-120 hours/week. However, everyone knows exactly what they are getting into and there is a light at the end of the tunnel, meaning you put in your time and work for basically free when you are young, then after you put in the time and move up the ladder (attending physician/law firm partner) someone else is doing all the work for you and you are making all the $$.

I think most salaried jobs that require crazy hours are like this, meaning you know what you are getting into and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, when jobs are scarce and competition for them is fierce, you are forced to knowingly put yourself in bad situations.

For example, I have a friend who is a consultant who is working 100 hour days for a firm with no real chance for advancement in the near future, but he doesn't really have a choice because openings for better spots are so limited and he is competing with people who are qualified for way better jobs but are settling because they don't have a choice.

Still, I would much rather be in this spot than a professional online poker player in the US with no backup plan that does not have the bankroll or skill to squeeze a living in today's poker world.