Pitman (2-2-3) Schedule 2026: Calendar & Pay Calculator

What is the Pitman schedule?

The Pitman schedule is a 14-day rotation built on the rhythm work 2, off 2, work 3, off 2, work 2, off 3. That produces exactly seven 12-hour shifts per cycle — an average of 3.5 shifts or 42 hours per week. In a four-crew operation, each team starts its cycle offset by a few days, which keeps coverage continuous around the clock without anyone working more than the pattern requires.

You will hear it called the Panama schedule or the 2-2-3 — same rotation, different name. Some plants run it with fixed day or night crews; others rotate crews between shifts every few cycles.

Who works the 2-2-3?

It is a favorite wherever 24/7 coverage meets union-style predictability: firefighters, police officers, 911 dispatchers, corrections officers, hospital nursing units, power plant and water treatment operators, plant security teams and continuous manufacturing crews.

Example Pitman month

Four weeks starting on a cycle day one (Sunday, September 6, 2026 in this example):

D = day shift · O = off. Your own dates will differ — set your cycle start in the calendar above.

Pros and cons of the Pitman rotation

• Pro: a three-day weekend block every second week — the reason many workers refuse to leave the pattern.
• Pro: a fixed 14-day rhythm you can memorize; no day/night flipping if your crew stays on one shift.
• Pro: 182 days off per year by design.
• Con: heavy weeks stack five 12s (60 scheduled hours) — childcare, sleep and commute planning get real.
• Con: weekends off alternate rather than repeat weekly, which complicates social plans.
• Con: the off-3 block lands on different weekdays each cycle, so "Sunday off" is not guaranteed.

Pitman schedule pay calculator

Your Pitman paycheck swings week to week: the five-shift week pays 57.5 hours and crosses the federal 40-hour overtime line (about 17.5 OT hours), while the two-shift week pays only 23 hours. California daily-OT states add 1.5× pay to hours 8–12 of every shift regardless of the week. Set your rate and rule below — the calculator remembers it on this device.

Pitman schedule FAQ

Is the 2-2-3 schedule the same as the Pitman or Panama schedule?

Yes. Pitman, 2-2-3 and Panama all describe the same 14-day rotation: work 2, off 2, work 3, off 2, work 2, off 3. Different industries just use different names for it.

I searched for a 2-2-3 custody schedule — is this the same thing?

No — that is a coincidence of naming. A 2-2-3 parenting schedule splits days between two parents using the same 2-2-3 rhythm, while this page is about the 2-2-3 work rotation for employees. The calendar rhythm is identical, but custody exchanges involve two households, not shifts.

How many hours a week is the Pitman schedule?

It averages 42 hours: seven 12-hour shifts per 14-day cycle. In practice your weeks alternate — a heavy week with five shifts (57.5 paid hours after a 30-minute unpaid break) followed by a light week with two shifts (23 paid hours).

Do Pitman weeks include overtime?

Under federal FLSA rules, the five-shift week crosses the 40-hour threshold, so roughly 17.5 of those paid hours are overtime at 1.5×. In California and other daily-OT states, every 12-hour shift contains overtime because you pass 8 hours in a day.

When do I get weekends off on a Pitman rotation?

The built-in reward is the every-other-weekend effect: depending on where your cycle starts, you get a three-day weekend block every second week. Enter your cycle start date above and the calendar shows exactly which weekends are yours.

How do I find the first day of my cycle?

Pick the first day of your last stretch of shifts — for Pitman that is the first of the "2" blocks. If you are mid-block, count back to its first day. The calendar re-renders instantly when you change the date.