“The 9[am] to 5[pm]” is a common term for one’s regular job, on the basis that normal people start work at 09:00 and finish at 17:00. I’ve worked a few jobs and closest I’ve ever gotten to this is 08:00 to 17:00, which I gather is standard.
Are there real jobs where people actually start at 9 and finish at 5?
All of my jobs have been 9-5, lunch included. I think the key is whether you’re paid hourly or by salary. I’ve almost exclusively worked at tech startups as a salaried employee.