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 | Day shifts | 4 on, 3 off | 48 hrs |
| Week 2 | Day shifts | 3 on, 1 off, 3 on | 72 hrs |
| Week 3 | Night shifts | 3 off, 4 on | 48 hrs |
| Week 4 | Night shifts / Off | 3 on, 7 off | 36 hrs then off |
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 rotate between day shifts (often 6 AM–6 PM) and night shifts (6 PM–6 AM) within the 28-day cycle. This shift inversion — from days to nights mid-rotation — is the most physically demanding aspect of DuPont compared to schedules that stay on one shift type. The one-week break at the end of the cycle is partly designed to allow recovery from the day-to-night transition.
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 days) | 4 × 12 hrs | 48 hrs | 40 hrs | 8 hrs @ 1.5× |
| Week 2 (6 days) | 6 × 12 hrs | 72 hrs | 40 hrs | 32 hrs @ 1.5× |
| Week 3 (4 nights) | 4 × 12 hrs | 48 hrs | 40 hrs | 8 hrs @ 1.5× |
| Week 4 (3 nights + off) | 3 × 12 hrs | 36 hrs | 36 hrs | 0 |
Week 2 is the heavy week — six consecutive 12-hour shifts generates 32 hours of overtime in a single FLSA workweek. Over the full 28-day cycle, you earn 48 hours of overtime pay (8 + 32 + 8 + 0). That premium is significant.
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 $101,504 gross figure is notably higher than a straight-time 42-hour average would produce: 42 hrs × $32 × 52 weeks = $69,888. The overtime premium from DuPont's heavy weeks adds over $31,000 in annual gross earnings at $32/hr — a 45% uplift over a simple hours-times-rate calculation. This is why DuPont workers often earn significantly more than their posted hourly rate suggests.
Night shift differential impact
Add a $3.00/hr night differential for Weeks 3 and 4 (the night rotation) and the picture improves further. Night differential must be included in the regular rate, so it also increases the overtime rate for those specific hours.
Run your full DuPont pay calculation — base rate, night differentials, and week-by-week overtime broken down automatically.
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