9/80 Schedule
A 9/80 schedule compresses the standard 80-hour two-week load into 9 workdays instead of 10: you work eight 9-hour days plus one 8-hour day, and get every other Friday completely off. Same total hours and pay as a 9-to-5 — but 26 three-day weekends a year.
A 9/80 schedule compresses the standard 80-hour two-week load into 9 workdays instead of 10: you work eight 9-hour days plus one 8-hour day, and get every other Friday completely off. Same total hours and pay as a 9-to-5 — but 26 three-day weekends a year. Data from BLS + Jobeezy ghost-filter (2026).
### 9/80 Schedule key facts A 9/80 schedule compresses 80 hours into 9 days over 2 weeks: eight 9-hour days + one 8-hour day, earning every other Friday off. Full pay, 26 three-day weekends a year. - Cycle: 2 weeks - Average hours: 40 hrs/week (80 hours per 2-week cycle)9/80 Schedule calendar
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Day | Day | Day | Day | Day | Off | Off |
| Week 2 | Day | Day | Day | Day | Off | Off | Off |
At a glance
| Shift length | 9 hours (one 8-hour day per cycle) |
|---|---|
| Cycle | 2 weeks |
| Average hours | 40 hrs/week (80 hours per 2-week cycle) |
Who uses the 9/80 schedule?
Aerospace and defense (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing programs), engineering firms, government agencies, and utilities.
Pros
- Every other Friday off — 26 three-day weekends a year
- No pay change: same 80 hours per period
- Great for appointments, errands, and short trips without PTO
Cons
- 9-hour days make weekday evenings shorter
- Which Friday is 'off' is fixed by your employer — no choosing
- Overtime/timekeeping rules around the split Friday can be confusing
Frequently asked questions
- How does the 9/80 Friday work?
- Week one you work a 9-hour Mon–Thu plus an 8-hour Friday; week two you work 9-hour Mon–Thu and take Friday off. For payroll, the 8-hour Friday is split across the two workweeks so neither week exceeds 40 hours.
- Is a 9/80 schedule worth it?
- If you value long weekends over shorter weekdays, yes — you trade ~1 extra hour per day for 26 Fridays off a year.
- Which companies use 9/80?
- It's a staple in aerospace and defense — much of Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and similar programs run on it — plus many engineering and government offices.
Other shift patterns
- DuPont Schedule
- 2-2-3 Schedule (Pitman / Panama)
- 4-on-4-off Schedule
- 4/10 Schedule (Four Tens)
- Kelly Schedule (24-Hour Shifts)
- Southern Swing Schedule
Shift hours at major employers
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