The DuPont schedule is a four-week rotating shift pattern that runs 12-hour shifts, covers a 24/7 operation with four crews, and is built around one defining feature that no other common rotation offers: one full week off every four weeks. It was developed internally at the DuPont chemical company in the 1950s and has since spread across manufacturing, chemical processing, utilities, paper mills, and other continuous-operation industries.
If you've just been told your plant or facility is switching to DuPont, or you're trying to figure out what your paycheck will actually look like across the rotation, this guide covers the full 28-day cycle, week-by-week overtime breakdown, and a real pay calculation for a $32/hr utility worker.
The 28-day DuPont rotation — how it works
The DuPont schedule uses four crews (typically A, B, C, D) and alternates between day and night shifts across a 28-day cycle. The rotation for a single crew looks like this:
| Week | Shift Type | Pattern | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Night shifts | 4 on, 3 off | 48 hrs |
| Week 2 | Days, then nights | 3 days on, 1 off, 3 nights on | 72 hrs |
| Week 3 | Day shifts | 3 off, 4 on | 48 hrs |
| Week 4 | Off | 7 days off | 0 hrs |
Week 4 ends with a 7-day break — that's the full week off that defines the DuPont pattern. Over 28 days, a single crew works approximately 168 hours, which averages to 42 hours per week. But as with the Pitman schedule, averages conceal significant week-to-week variation that directly affects your overtime.
The shift switch: DuPont crews alternate between night shifts (often 6 PM-6 AM) and day shifts (6 AM-6 PM) within the 28-day cycle. The quick flips between them are the most physically demanding part of DuPont compared with schedules that stay on one shift type. The 7 days off at the end of the cycle give you time to reset.
FLSA overtime week by week
The DuPont schedule's heavy variation across weeks makes the overtime calculation non-obvious. Here's what each of the four weeks looks like through the FLSA lens:
| Week | Shifts | Total Hours | Straight-Time Hours | OT Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 (4 nights) | 4 × 12 hrs | 48 hrs | 40 hrs | 8 hrs @ 1.5× |
| Week 2 (3 days + 3 nights) | 6 × 12 hrs | 72 hrs | 40 hrs | 32 hrs @ 1.5× |
| Week 3 (4 days) | 4 × 12 hrs | 48 hrs | 40 hrs | 8 hrs @ 1.5× |
| Week 4 (rest week) | 0 | 0 hrs | 0 hrs | 0 |
Week 2 is the heavy week: six 12-hour shifts generate 32 hours of overtime in one FLSA workweek. Over the 28-day cycle this alignment (workweek starts on the first night of the 4-night block) gives 48 overtime hours (8 + 32 + 8 + 0). That is the best case: depending on which day your employer's workweek starts, the same crew sees between 16 and 48 overtime hours per cycle (see the alignment table).
Who uses the DuPont schedule
The DuPont pattern works for any 24/7 continuous process operation with four-crew staffing. Most common industries:
- Chemical and petrochemical plants — where DuPont originated and remains dominant
- Utility and power generation — natural gas plants, coal and nuclear stations, water treatment facilities
- Paper and pulp mills
- Automotive and industrial manufacturing that runs 24/7 production lines
- Data centers and telecom network operations that need around-the-clock staffing with lower headcount than a full five-crew setup
DuPont is less common in healthcare, public safety, and retail, where Pitman 2-2-3, 3×12, or 4-on-4-off schedules tend to dominate. The day-to-night rotation of DuPont is particularly well-suited to industrial environments where all workers on a shift need to be doing the same type of work, regardless of whether it's day or night.
Real pay example: $32/hr utility worker on DuPont
The $79,872 figure is $9,984 more than a straight-time 42-hour average would produce (42 hrs × $32 × 52 weeks = $69,888), a 14% uplift. It is the best case. With other workweek alignments the same crew has 16 to 36 overtime hours per cycle and earns about $73,200 to $77,400 a year at $32/hr. Check the day your employer's workweek starts before you compare offers.
Night shift differential impact
Add a $3.00/hr night differential for the 7 night shifts in Weeks 1 and 2 (84 night hours per cycle). The differential is part of the regular rate, so it also raises the overtime premium on overtime hours worked at night or in mixed weeks.
Run your full DuPont pay calculation — base rate, night differentials, and week-by-week overtime broken down automatically.
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