Shoulder surgery cost without insurance
The median cash price for Rotator cuff repair is $7,972.34 across 634 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $2,151.75 and $28,446.81.
Most shoulder operations are arthroscopic, done through small cuts as same-day surgery. Rotator cuff repair is the most common; bone shaving and collarbone procedures are often added in the same operation, each with its own code. A total shoulder replacement is a larger operation, sometimes with an overnight stay.
Collected Nov 10, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
Shoulder surgery prices by type
29827 is arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and is used in the state table; 29826 is bone shaving added to another shoulder procedure; 29824 removes the end of the collarbone; and 23472 is a total shoulder replacement.
| Procedure | Hospitals | Middle 80% | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotator cuff repair Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair of the shoulder · code 29827 | 634 | $2,151.75–$28,446.81 | $7,972.34 | — |
| Shoulder decompression add-on Shoulder arthroscopy: shaving of the shoulder bone (add-on to another shoulder surgery) · code 29826 | 567 | $705.00–$25,681.38 | $5,174.25 | — |
| Shoulder arthroscopy, collarbone end removal Shoulder arthroscopy with removal of the end of the collarbone (distal clavicle) · code 29824 | 565 | $1,449.82–$23,574.27 | $4,788.00 | — |
| Shoulder replacement Total shoulder replacement · code 23472 | 505 | $3,049.64–$47,638.89 | $17,296.17 | — |
What the hospital price covers
The hospital price is usually the facility fee for the operation. The surgeon, the anesthesiologist and follow-up visits bill separately, and so does physical therapy afterward.
“Most charge” is the middle 80% of hospitals (10th to 90th percentile), so one mistyped line in a hospital file cannot stretch it. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price for the code. “Medicare” is Medicare's 2026 national base rate for the same service outside a hospital stay, including the patient's share (the hospital outpatient, lab or hospital clinic rate); “median 3×” means the median cash price is three times that rate.
Rotator cuff repair: median by state
States with at least 5 hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its shoulder surgery prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Arkansas$2,487.64
- Minnesota$3,623.96
- Oregon$3,795.07
- Michigan$3,991.75
- Iowa$4,205.38
- Nebraska$4,523.20
- Texas$4,919.40
- West Virginia$4,964.67
- Wisconsin$5,268.87
- Kentucky$6,485.76
- Washington$6,677.78
- Mississippi$7,026.88
- Kansas$7,458.50
- California$7,543.65
- New Jersey$7,807.24
- Nevada$7,892.00
- North Carolina$7,942.80
- New Mexico$7,973.52
- New York$8,453.60
- Tennessee$9,037.38
- Louisiana$9,276.71
- Illinois$9,308.20
- Missouri$9,765.41
- Colorado$10,281.00
- Massachusetts$10,435.10
- Idaho$11,190.13
- Georgia$11,309.00
- Alabama$11,670.30
- Arizona$11,945.69
- Pennsylvania$13,461.22
- Oklahoma$13,811.32
- Indiana$16,936.49
- Florida$22,888.16
- Hawaii$23,893.10
- Virginia$27,745.20
- Ohio$27,934.35
- South Carolina$29,812.42
Rotator cuff repair: median by metro area
Metro areas with at least 10 hospitals.
- Atlanta, GA$11,309.00
- Chicago, IL$13,786.04
- Dallas, TX$6,933.82
- Los Angeles, CA$9,744.80
- New York, NY$7,907.11
- San Diego, CA$6,291.02
- San Francisco, CA$6,300.00
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask for a bundled self-pay price that includes the surgeon, anesthesia, facility and follow-up visits; hospital file prices usually cover only the facility.
- Ask for the price of the whole operation, since several codes are often billed together.
- Ask how many physical therapy visits are expected, since rehab is a large part of the cost.
Questions
How much does shoulder surgery cost without insurance?
The median hospital cash price for Rotator cuff repair (code 29827) is $7,972.34 across 634 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price; most charge $2,151.75 to $28,446.81. By state, the median runs from $2,487.64 in Arkansas to $29,812.42 in South Carolina. The hospital price is usually the facility fee for the operation. The surgeon, the anesthesiologist and follow-up visits bill separately, and so does physical therapy afterward.
How long is rotator cuff recovery?
A sling for about six weeks and four to six months before full strength.
Is surgery always needed for a torn rotator cuff?
No. Partial tears often improve with physical therapy.
Is shoulder surgery done as an outpatient?
Arthroscopic surgery almost always is; replacements sometimes are.