Joint injection (cortisone shot) cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 37 hospitals publish a cash price for injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound: from $95.00 to $1,559.00, with a median of $392.50. The lowest price is at Duke Regional Hospital (Durham). The highest price is 16.4× the lowest.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 20610. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 24, 2026.
Lowest$95.00Duke Regional Hospital
Median$392.50half pay less
Highest$1,559.00in North Carolina
Lowest saves$297.50vs the median
Hospitals in North Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Regional Hospital lowest Durham · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt/Bursa W/O US | $95.00 | $190.00 | — source file |
| Duke University Hospital Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt/Bursa W/O US | $122.00 | $244.00 | — source file |
| Duke University Hospital Durham · Durham, NC Arthrocentesis Aspir&/Inj Major Jt/Bursa W/O US | $122.00 | $244.00 | — source file |
| East Carolina Health-Bertie one side Windsor · Windsor, NC Joint/Bursa Asp/Inj W/O US Guide, Large-Lt-ED | $198.24 | $354.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center Murphy · Murphy, NC HC Inj/Asp Major Jnt Site | $210.70 | $301.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| Vidant Duplin Hospital one side Kenansville · Kenansville, NC Joint/Bursa Asp/Inj W/O US Guide, Large-Rt | $234.64 | $419.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health North Hospital one side Roanoke Rapids · Roanoke Rapids, NC Joint/Bursa Asp/Inj W/O US Guide, Large-Rt-ED | $239.68 | $428.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Outer Banks Hospital one side Nags Head · Kill Devil Hills, NC Joint/Bursa Asp/Inj W/O US Guide, Large-Rt-ED | $255.36 | $456.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Polk Columbus · Columbus, NC HC CAH II ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $271.11 | $271.11 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Medical Center one side Greenville · Greenville, NC Joint/Bursa Asp/Inj W/O US Guide, Large-Lt | $294.15 | $555.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Pitt County Memorial Hospital one side Washington · Washington, NC Joint/Bursa Asp/Inj W/O US Guide, Large-Lt | $294.15 | $555.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bermuda Run · Winston-Salem, NC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $312.50 | $625.00 | Oct 21, 2025 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston Salem · Winston-Salem, NC HC ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID PRO FEE | $330.00 | $660.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Duke Health Lake Norman Hospital Mooresville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ARTHCS ASP/INJ MJR JT WO US | $331.02 | $1,226.00 | — source file |
| High Point Regional Health High Point · Greensboro-High Point, NC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $334.50 | $669.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Lexington Medical Center Lexington · Winston-Salem, NC HC ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $340.50 | $681.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin · Mount Airy, NC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $373.00 | $746.00 | Jul 16, 2026 source file |
| Wilkes Regional Medical Center North Wilkesboro · North Wilkesboro, NC HC ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $373.00 | $746.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City · Elizabeth City, NC Oth-Inj Major Jnt/Bur W/O Us | $392.50 | $785.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Vidant Edgecombe Hospital one side Tarboro · Rocky Mount, NC Joint/Bursa Asp/Inj W/O US Guide, Large-Lt | $460.32 | $822.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby · Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC HC ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 4, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 4, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 1, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Carolinas Rehabilitation Concord · Concord, NC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $619.80 | $1,239.60 | Dec 5, 2025 source file |
| Stanly Regional Medical Center Albermarle · Albemarle, NC HC ER ARTHROCENTESIS MAJOR JOINT W/O US GUID | $646.00 | $1,292.00 | Sep 15, 2026 source file |
| Vidant Chowan Hospital one side Edenton · Edenton, NC Joint/Bursa Asp/Inj W/O US Guide, Large-Lt | $680.40 | $1,215.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health one side Ahoskie · Ahoskie, NC Joint/Bursa Asp/Inj W/O US Guide, Large-Lt-ED | $1,134.00 | $2,025.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Gastonia · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG INJ/ASP OF MAJOR JOINT W/O US | $1,525.00 | $1,525.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG ARTHROCENT ASP MAJOR JT WO US | $1,525.00 | $1,525.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital one side Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG ARTHROCENT MAJOR JT RT WO US | $1,525.00 | $1,525.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Hendersonville Hendersonville · Asheville, NC HC ARTHROCENTESIS ASPIR&/INJ MAJOR JT/BURSA W/O US | $1,559.00 | $1,559.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 12 | $331.02 | $619.80 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 3 | $312.50 | $330.00 |
| Ahoskie, NC | 1 | $1,134.00 | $1,134.00 |
| Albemarle, NC | 1 | $646.00 | $646.00 |
| Asheville, NC | 1 | $1,559.00 | $1,559.00 |
| Columbus, NC | 1 | $271.11 | $271.11 |
| Concord, NC | 1 | $619.80 | $619.80 |
| Durham, NC | 1 | $122.00 | $122.00 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1 | $95.00 | $95.00 |
| Edenton, NC | 1 | $680.40 | $680.40 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $392.50 | $392.50 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1 | $334.50 | $334.50 |
| Greenville, NC | 1 | $294.15 | $294.15 |
| Kenansville, NC | 1 | $234.64 | $234.64 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1 | $255.36 | $255.36 |
| Murphy, NC | 1 | $210.70 | $210.70 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 1 | $373.00 | $373.00 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 1 | $373.00 | $373.00 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1 | $122.00 | $122.00 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1 | $239.68 | $239.68 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1 | $460.32 | $460.32 |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 1 | $619.80 | $619.80 |
| Windsor, NC | 1 | $198.24 | $198.24 |
| Washington, NC | 1 | $294.15 | $294.15 |
What it is
This procedure uses a needle to inject medicine into, or draw fluid out of, a large joint such as the knee, shoulder or hip, or a large bursa. It is commonly used for arthritis or bursitis pain, or to test joint fluid.
What the price covers
The price covers the injection or drainage procedure for one joint. The drug itself, such as a steroid or gel injection, and any lab test of the fluid are billed separately.
Injection or fluid drainage of a major joint (knee, shoulder, hip), no ultrasound in other states
- Alabama$902.38
- Alaska$418.00
- Arizona$2,599.00
- Arkansas$172.90
- California$951.60
- Colorado$1,578.27
- Connecticut$260.00
- Delaware$957.97
- Florida$877.15
- Georgia$905.19
- Hawaii$596.40
- Idaho$672.00
- Illinois$450.00
- Indiana$379.25
- Iowa$152.80
- Kansas$342.23
- Kentucky$1,105.20
- Louisiana$258.30
- Maine$142.75
- Maryland$182.55
- Massachusetts$478.10
- Michigan$360.75
- Minnesota$369.26
- Mississippi$128.70
- Missouri$191.10
- Montana$282.33
- Nebraska$191.10
- Nevada$333.00
- New Hampshire$192.45
- New Jersey$393.89
- New Mexico$239.36
- New York$349.32
- North Dakota$324.75
- Ohio$696.00
- Oklahoma$154.05
- Oregon$184.60
- Pennsylvania$456.00
- Rhode Island$343.00
- South Carolina$556.00
- South Dakota$750.00
- Tennessee$295.05
- Texas$592.44
- Utah$548.03
- Vermont$123.90
- Virginia$386.63
- Washington$565.50
- West Virginia$273.25
- Wisconsin$345.15
- Wyoming$158.61
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.