Steroid injection cost without insurance
The median cash price for Joint injection (cortisone shot) is $416.40 across 1,441 US hospitals that publish a self-pay price. Most hospitals (the middle 80%) charge between $107.90 and $1,271.20.
Steroid injections, often called cortisone shots, treat joint, tendon and spine pain. They are billed by where the needle goes and whether imaging guides it. A shot in a knee or shoulder in a doctor's office is at the low end, while spine injections under X-ray in a hospital cost much more. The steroid itself is often a separate charge.
Collected Sep 25, 2026 One price per hospital, from each hospital's own price file
Steroid injection prices by type
20610 is an injection into a large joint such as the knee or shoulder and is used in the state table; 20605 and 20600 are medium and small joints; 20550 and 20552 are tendon and trigger point injections; 62321 to 62323 and 64483 are epidural injections; 64493 is a facet joint injection; 64635 is radiofrequency ablation; 64405 is an occipital nerve block; and 64615 is Botox for migraine.
| Procedure | Hospitals | Most charge | Median | Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint injection (cortisone shot) Injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound · code 20610 | 1,441 | $107.90–$1,271.20 | $416.40 | $313.60median 1.3× |
| Joint injection (medium joint) Joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle) · code 20605 | 1,397 | $92.28–$1,042.42 | $372.57 | $313.60median 1.2× |
| Joint injection (small joint) Joint injection or drainage, small joint (fingers, toes) · code 20600 | 1,321 | $84.00–$894.00 | $347.10 | $313.60median 1.1× |
| Tendon sheath injection Injection into a tendon sheath or ligament (for example trigger finger) · code 20550 | 1,245 | $97.56–$1,027.26 | $394.73 | $313.60median 1.3× |
| Trigger point injection Trigger point injections, 1 or 2 muscles · code 20552 | 1,384 | $85.68–$1,078.50 | $361.23 | $313.60median 1.2× |
| Epidural injection, guided Lower-back epidural injection, with imaging guidance · code 62323 | 1,237 | $376.08–$3,314.01 | $1,256.58 | $721.17median 1.7× |
| Epidural steroid injection Lower-back epidural injection, without imaging guidance · code 62322 | 1,021 | $240.35–$3,182.80 | $1,177.23 | $903.63median 1.3× |
| Neck epidural injection Epidural steroid injection, neck or mid back, with imaging guidance · code 62321 | 1,100 | $362.67–$3,657.00 | $1,256.54 | $721.17median 1.7× |
| Nerve root injection Lower-back nerve root steroid injection, with imaging guidance · code 64483 | 1,124 | $405.87–$3,562.93 | $1,447.72 | $903.63median 1.6× |
| Lumbar facet injection Facet joint injection, lower back, one level, with imaging guidance · code 64493 | 1,119 | $403.27–$3,992.95 | $1,490.00 | $903.63median 1.6× |
| Lumbar radiofrequency ablation Radiofrequency ablation of facet joint nerves, lower back, one level · code 64635 | 896 | $686.25–$5,708.05 | $2,492.33 | — |
| Occipital nerve block Occipital nerve block (injection for headaches) · code 64405 | 1,191 | $152.25–$1,324.05 | $515.00 | $313.60median 1.6× |
| Botox for migraine Botox injections for chronic migraine · code 64615 | 702 | $141.32–$1,239.00 | $489.00 | $313.60median 1.6× |
“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.
Joint injection (cortisone shot): median by state
States with at least two hospitals, cheapest median first. Pick a state for its steroid injection prices and cheapest hospitals.
- Vermont$123.90
- Mississippi$128.70
- Maine$142.75
- Iowa$152.80
- Oklahoma$154.05
- Wyoming$158.61
- Arkansas$172.90
- Maryland$182.55
- Oregon$184.60
- Missouri$191.10
- Nebraska$191.10
- New Hampshire$192.45
- New Mexico$239.36
- Louisiana$258.30
- Connecticut$260.00
- West Virginia$273.25
- Montana$282.33
- Tennessee$295.05
- North Dakota$324.75
- Nevada$333.00
- Kansas$342.23
- Rhode Island$343.00
- Wisconsin$345.15
- New York$349.32
- Michigan$360.75
- Minnesota$369.26
- Indiana$379.25
- North Carolina$392.50
- New Jersey$393.89
- Alaska$418.00
- Illinois$450.00
- Pennsylvania$456.00
- Virginia$478.00
- Massachusetts$478.10
- South Carolina$556.00
- Washington$565.50
- Texas$592.44
- Hawaii$596.40
- Idaho$672.00
- Ohio$696.00
- South Dakota$750.00
- Florida$877.15
- Alabama$902.38
- Georgia$905.19
- California$951.60
- Delaware$957.97
- Kentucky$1,105.20
- Colorado$1,578.27
- Arizona$2,599.00
Paying cash: what to do
- Ask whether the price includes the medicine and any ultrasound or X-ray guidance.
- Orthopedic, sports medicine and pain management offices often charge less than hospitals.
- Doctors usually limit steroid shots to a few a year in one spot, so ask how many you might need.
Questions
How long does a cortisone shot last?
Relief often lasts weeks to months, and varies from person to person.
Do spine injections need imaging?
Epidural and facet injections are usually done under X-ray or CT guidance, which adds cost.
Are there side effects?
Short-term pain at the site, a temporary rise in blood sugar and facial flushing are common.