Why rotating schedules pay unevenly
Rotating schedules rarely pay the same every week. A Pitman crew might work 36 hours one week and 48 the next; a 7 on 7 off crew works 84 hours, then none. Because overtime is usually counted week by week, two schedules that both average 42 hours can pay quite differently.
The calculator above uses your exact rotation, your crew and your dates to estimate every paycheck for the year: regular pay, overtime, night and weekend differentials and holiday premium.
Example: yearly pay at $25 an hour
Gross pay for 2027 on each schedule at $25/hour with federal 40-hour overtime, pay weeks starting Sunday, no differentials, averaged across crews.
| Schedule | Yearly gross | Overtime hours | Two-week paychecks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitman schedule | $56,550 | 156 | $2,150 – $2,200 |
| 2-2-3 work schedule | $56,550 | 156 | $1,938 – $2,413 |
| Panama schedule | $56,550 | 156 | $1,938 – $2,413 |
| DuPont schedule | $60,450 | 468 | $1,600 – $3,050 |
| Continental shift pattern | $55,900 | 104 | $2,000 – $2,300 |
| Southern Swing schedule | $57,038 | 195 | $1,825 – $2,563 |
| Kelly schedule | $83,200 | 832 | $2,600 – $4,138 |
| 24/48 schedule | $83,200 | 832 | $2,863 – $3,500 |
| 48/96 schedule | $83,200 | 832 | $2,600 – $3,763 |
| 24/72 schedule | $57,363 | 221 | $1,813 – $2,600 |
| 4 on 4 off schedule | $57,038 | 195 | $1,800 – $2,600 |
| 7 on 7 off schedule | $63,863 | 741 | $2,413 – $2,500 |
| 3 on 3 off schedule | $56,988 | 191 | $1,800 – $2,600 |
| 2-2-2 schedule (DDNNOO) | $83,200 | 832 | $3,050 – $3,313 |
| 4 on 2 off schedule | $65,000 | 347 | $2,375 – $2,750 |
| 4 on 3 off schedule | $52,000 | 0 | $2,000 – $2,000 |
| 5 on 2 off schedule | $52,000 | 0 | $2,000 – $2,000 |
| 9/80 work schedule | $52,000 | 0 | $2,000 – $2,000 |
Firefighter schedules (24/48, 48/96, Kelly, 24/72) are shown with the weekly rule for comparison; most fire departments use the 28-day 7(k) rule instead, which you can choose in the calculator. The 9/80 is shown without overtime, because employers usually start its workweek halfway through the 8-hour Friday so every week has exactly 40 hours.
How the calculator works
Weekly overtime. Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), most hourly workers earn at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Your employer picks the day the workweek starts, which is why the calculator asks for it: moving the start day can move hours between weeks and change your overtime.
Night shifts are split at midnight. A Saturday night shift that ends Sunday morning counts partly in each workweek if the week starts on Sunday. The calculator splits every shift by the clock, the way payroll should.
Differentials raise your overtime rate. The FLSA "regular rate" includes shift differentials, so if you earn $25 plus a $2 night differential, overtime is based on $27, not $25. Many simple calculators get this wrong.
Firefighters and police (7(k)). Public fire and law enforcement agencies may use a work period of up to 28 days. In a 28-day period, overtime starts after 212 hours for fire protection and 171 hours for law enforcement. Choose those options to see how your 24/48 or Kelly rotation pays.
What isn't included: taxes and deductions; state daily-overtime rules (such as California's); hospital "8 and 80" arrangements; union contract rules; shift trades and call-ins. Treat the result as a planning estimate.
Questions
How is overtime calculated on a 12-hour rotating schedule?
For most hourly workers, overtime is hours over 40 in each 7-day workweek, paid at 1.5 times the regular rate. On a 2-2-3 schedule that often means 8 hours of overtime every other week; on 7 on 7 off, 44 hours every other week. The exact amount depends on which day your workweek starts.
Does my night differential count toward overtime?
Under federal law, yes. Shift differentials are part of the "regular rate", so your overtime rate is based on your base rate plus the differential.
How do firefighters get paid overtime on 24-hour shifts?
Public fire departments can use section 7(k) of the FLSA, with overtime after 212 hours in a 28-day period (or a shorter period with the threshold scaled down). A 24/48 rotation averages about 224 hours per 28 days, so roughly 12 hours of overtime per period, before any Kelly days or contract rules.
Why does my paycheck change every two weeks?
Because the number of shifts in each pay period varies with your rotation, and overtime is counted per workweek. The chart in the calculator shows every paycheck for the year so you can plan around the low ones.
Is this the same as my actual paycheck?
No. It's a gross-pay estimate before taxes and deductions, based on federal overtime rules. Your employer, state law and any union contract may differ. Use it to plan and to compare schedules, and check your pay stub for the real numbers.
General information, not legal, tax or payroll advice.