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Cash prices California Outpatient

Steroid injection cost in California without insurance

In California, the median cash price for Joint injection (cortisone shot) is $951.60 across 89 hospitals, from $47.25 to $15,964.81. The lowest is at Madera Community Hospital (Madera). The US median is $416.40.

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 24, 2026 One price per hospital: its lowest outpatient cash price for the code

Steroid injection prices in California 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.

ProcedureHospitals RangeMedian US median
Joint injection (cortisone shot) Injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound · code 20610 89 $47.25–$15,964.81 $951.60 $416.40
Joint injection (medium joint) Joint injection or drainage, medium joint (wrist, elbow, ankle) · code 20605 89 $120.00–$7,588.80 $608.40 $372.57
Joint injection (small joint) Joint injection or drainage, small joint (fingers, toes) · code 20600 85 $49.23–$7,588.80 $728.00 $347.10
Tendon sheath injection Injection into a tendon sheath or ligament (for example trigger finger) · code 20550 84 $138.00–$2,180.76 $660.40 $394.73
Trigger point injection Trigger point injections, 1 or 2 muscles · code 20552 87 $136.50–$2,076.21 $624.00 $361.23
Epidural injection, guided Lower-back epidural injection, with imaging guidance · code 62323 81 $315.00–$8,174.08 $2,220.40 $1,256.58
Epidural steroid injection Lower-back epidural injection, without imaging guidance · code 62322 77 $388.00–$6,445.89 $1,648.40 $1,177.23
Neck epidural injection Epidural steroid injection, neck or mid back, with imaging guidance · code 62321 72 $345.00–$8,174.08 $1,930.31 $1,256.54
Nerve root injection Lower-back nerve root steroid injection, with imaging guidance · code 64483 77 $229.50–$7,588.80 $1,939.60 $1,447.72
Lumbar facet injection Facet joint injection, lower back, one level, with imaging guidance · code 64493 76 $287.00–$7,588.80 $2,059.20 $1,490.00
Lumbar radiofrequency ablation Radiofrequency ablation of facet joint nerves, lower back, one level · code 64635 58 $715.00–$8,919.69 $4,056.77 $2,492.33
Occipital nerve block Occipital nerve block (injection for headaches) · code 64405 80 $165.90–$7,588.80 $878.80 $515.00
Botox for migraine Botox injections for chronic migraine · code 64615 53 $196.10–$2,707.50 $888.00 $489.00

Outpatient cash prices in California. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest cash price for the code; prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Pick a procedure to compare every hospital in the state.

Lowest Joint injection (cortisone shot) prices in California

Steroid injection cost by metro area in California

Steroid injection cost in other states

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.