Ear irrigation cost in North Carolina
In North Carolina, 52 hospitals publish a cash price for earwax removal by irrigation (rinsing), one ear: from $13.60 to $360.00, with a median of $106.20. The lowest price is at Northern Regional Hospital (Mount Airy). The highest price is 26.5× the lowest.
- The median here, $106.20, is about the same as the US median of $105.95.
- That is 1.8× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($60.27).
- North Carolina ranks 26th of 49 states by median, cheapest first.
- 5 of 52 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 69209. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 11, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$13.60Northern Regional Hospital
Median$106.20half of hospitals charge less
Highest$360.00in North Carolina
Lowest saves$92.60vs the median
Hospitals in North Carolina, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Regional Hospital one side lowest Mount Airy · Mount Airy, NC Remove Ear Wax by Irrigat-LT-P | $13.60 | $20.00 | Nov 12, 2025 source file |
| Lexington Medical Center Lexington · Winston-Salem, NC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $38.50 | $77.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Beaufort Hospital one side Washington · Washington, NC Rem Impacted Cerumen (Ear Wax) W/ Irrig/Lavage, Uni-Rt | $50.88 | $96.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Medical Center one side Greenville · Greenville, NC Rem Impacted Cerumen (Ear Wax) W/ Irrig/Lavage, Uni-Rt | $50.88 | $96.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke University Hospital Durham · Durham, NC Remvl Impacted Cerumen Irrig/Lvg Uni | $52.38 | $194.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Health Raleigh Hospital Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC Remvl Impacted Cerumen Irrig/Lvg Uni | $52.38 | $194.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Duke Regional Hospital Durham · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Remvl Impacted Cerumen Irrig/Lvg Uni | $52.38 | $194.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| East Carolina Health one side Ahoskie · Ahoskie, NC Rem Impacted Cerumen (Ear Wax) W/ Irrig/Lavage, Uni-Lt-ED | $53.76 | $96.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| AdventHealth Hendersonville one side Hendersonville · Asheville, NC HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT | $54.00 | $54.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Duplin Hospital one side Kenansville · Kenansville, NC Rem Impacted Cerumen (Ear Wax) W/ Irrig/Lavage, Uni-Rt-ED | $54.32 | $97.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| WakeMed Cary Hospital Cary · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Remove Impacted Ear Wax Uni | $59.28 | $156.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| WakeMed Raleigh Campus Raleigh · Raleigh-Cary, NC HC Remove Impacted Ear Wax Uni | $59.28 | $156.00 | Feb 11, 2026 source file |
| Iredell Memorial Hospital Statesville · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC REMOVAL OF CERUMEN IMPACTION ED Charge | $60.75 | $225.00 | Dec 31, 2025 source file |
| Erlanger Murphy Medical Center Murphy · Murphy, NC HC Removal Impacted Cerumen Irriga/ Lvg Uni | $63.00 | $90.00 | Jan 25, 2026 source file |
| Randolph Health Asheboro · Asheboro, NC REM IMPACTED CERUMEN UNILATERA | $66.00 | $330.00 | Dec 30, 2024 source file |
| ECU Health Edgecombe Hospital one side Tarboro · Rocky Mount, NC Rem Impacted Cerumen (Ear Wax) W/ Irrig/Lavage, Uni-Rt | $67.20 | $120.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sentara Albemarle Regional Medical Center Elizabeth City · Elizabeth City, NC 69209 Rem Impacted Ear Wax Uni | $79.50 | $159.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Winston Salem · Winston-Salem, NC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $87.00 | $174.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| North Carolina Baptist Hospital Bermuda Run · Winston-Salem, NC HC CERUMEN REMOVAL IRRIG/LAVAGE AMB | $92.00 | $184.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Alleghany County Memorial Hospital Sparta · Sparta, NC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $97.50 | $195.00 | Aug 12, 2025 source file |
| High Point Regional Health High Point · Greensboro-High Point, NC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $100.00 | $200.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Wilkes Regional Medical Center North Wilkesboro · North Wilkesboro, NC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $104.00 | $208.00 | Oct 8, 2025 source file |
| Betsy Johnson Hospital one side Dunn · Anderson Creek, NC REMOVAL OF IMPACTED EAR WAX BY WASHING | $106.20 | $177.00 | Apr 7, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Bladen County Hospital Elizabethtown · Elizabethtown, NC REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX UNI | $106.20 | $177.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley - Hoke Hospital one side Raeford · Fayetteville, NC REMOVAL OF IMPACTED EAR WAX BY WASHING | $106.20 | $177.00 | Mar 30, 2026 source file |
| Cape Fear Valley Medical Center one side Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC REMOVAL OF IMPACTED EAR WAX BY WASHING | $106.20 | $177.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital Fayetteville · Fayetteville, NC REMOVAL OF IMPACTED EAR WAX BY WASHING | $106.20 | $177.00 | Mar 22, 2026 source file |
| Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital Elkin · Mount Airy, NC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $108.50 | $217.00 | Oct 30, 2026 source file |
| Scotland Memorial Hospital and Edwin Morgan Center Laurinburg · Laurinburg, NC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $109.00 | $218.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Bertie Hospital one side Windsor · Windsor, NC Rem Impacted Cerumen (Ear Wax) W/ Irrig/Lavage, Uni-Lt | $134.40 | $240.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health North Hospital one side Roanoke Rapids · Roanoke Rapids, NC Rem Impacted Cerumen (Ear Wax) W/ Irrig/Lavage, Uni-Rt-ED | $139.44 | $249.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rutherford Regional Medical Center one side Rutherfordton · Forest City, NC Removal impacted cerumen using irrigation/lavage, unilateral | $145.51 | $363.77 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| The Outer Banks Hospital one side Nags Head · Kill Devil Hills, NC Rem Impacted Cerumen (Ear Wax) W/ Irrig/Lavage, Uni-Lt-ED | $147.84 | $264.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| ECU Health Chowan Hospital one side Edenton · Edenton, NC Rem Impacted Cerumen (Ear Wax) W/ Irrig/Lavage, Uni-Rt | $155.68 | $278.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Columbus Regional Healthcare System Whiteville · Whiteville, NC 69209 REMOVE IMPACTED EAR WAX TechFee | $163.83 | $234.03 | Sep 1, 2025 source file |
| AdventHealth Polk one side Columbus · Columbus, NC HC REMOVAL IMPACTED CERUMEN IRRIGATION/LVG UNILAT | $170.63 | $170.63 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Person Memorial Hospital one side Roxboro · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Removal impacted cerumen using irrigation/lavage, unilateral | $176.00 | $440.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Anson Wadesboro · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $179.00 | $358.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Cleveland Shelby · Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $179.00 | $358.00 | Oct 28, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Lincoln Lincolnton · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $179.00 | $358.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Mercy, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CERUMEN REMOVAL IRRIG/LAVAGE AMB | $179.00 | $358.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Pineville Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CERUMEN REMOVAL IRRIG/LAVAGE AMB | $179.00 | $358.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health Union Monroe · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CERUMEN REMOVAL IRRIG/LAVAGE AMB | $179.00 | $358.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Atrium Health University City Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $179.00 | $358.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center Charlotte · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC CERUMEN REMOVAL IRRIG/LAVAGE AMB | $179.00 | $358.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast Concord · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HC ER REMOVAL CERUMEN VIA IRRIGATION | $179.00 | $358.00 | Nov 4, 2026 source file |
| Stanly Regional Medical Center Albermarle · Albemarle, NC HC CERUMEN REMOVAL IRRIG/LAVAGE AMB | $179.00 | $358.00 | Oct 29, 2026 source file |
| Harris Regional Hospital one side Sylva · Sylva, NC Removal impacted cerumen using irrigation/lavage, unilateral | $236.40 | $591.01 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| Wilson Medical Center one side Wilson · Wilson, NC Removal impacted cerumen using irrigation/lavage, unilateral | $314.80 | $787.00 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
| CaroMont Regional Medical Center - Gastonia Gastonia · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG REMV IMPACTD CERUMN UNIL IRRIGN | $360.00 | $360.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Mount Holly · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG REMV IMPACTD CERUMN UNIL IRRIGN | $360.00 | $360.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
| Gaston Memorial Hospital Belmont · Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC HCHG REMV IMPACTD CERUMN UNIL IRRIGN | $360.00 | $360.00 | May 11, 2026 source file |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
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 | $60.75 | $179.00 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 3 | $106.20 | $106.20 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 3 | $52.38 | $59.28 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 3 | $38.50 | $87.00 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2 | $52.38 | $114.19 |
| Mount Airy, NC | 2 | $13.60 | $61.05 |
| Ahoskie, NC | 1 | $53.76 | $53.76 |
| Asheboro, NC | 1 | $66.00 | $66.00 |
| Albemarle, NC | 1 | $179.00 | $179.00 |
| Anderson Creek, NC | 1 | $106.20 | $106.20 |
| Asheville, NC | 1 | $54.00 | $54.00 |
| Columbus, NC | 1 | $170.63 | $170.63 |
| Durham, NC | 1 | $52.38 | $52.38 |
| Edenton, NC | 1 | $155.68 | $155.68 |
| Elizabethtown, NC | 1 | $106.20 | $106.20 |
| Elizabeth City, NC | 1 | $79.50 | $79.50 |
| Forest City, NC | 1 | $145.51 | $145.51 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 1 | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Greenville, NC | 1 | $50.88 | $50.88 |
| Kenansville, NC | 1 | $54.32 | $54.32 |
| Kill Devil Hills, NC | 1 | $147.84 | $147.84 |
| Laurinburg, NC | 1 | $109.00 | $109.00 |
| Murphy, NC | 1 | $63.00 | $63.00 |
| North Wilkesboro, NC | 1 | $104.00 | $104.00 |
| Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1 | $139.44 | $139.44 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 1 | $67.20 | $67.20 |
| Sparta, NC | 1 | $97.50 | $97.50 |
| Sylva, NC | 1 | $236.40 | $236.40 |
| Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC | 1 | $179.00 | $179.00 |
| Whiteville, NC | 1 | $163.83 | $163.83 |
| Windsor, NC | 1 | $134.40 | $134.40 |
| Washington, NC | 1 | $50.88 | $50.88 |
| Wilson, NC | 1 | $314.80 | $314.80 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
What ear irrigation is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Ear irrigation explained.
Earwax removal by irrigation (rinsing), one ear in other states
- Alabama$99.59
- Alaska$91.26
- Arizona$440.63
- Arkansas$54.00
- California$177.52
- Colorado$122.01
- Connecticut$115.80
- Delaware$246.96
- District of Columbia$187.73, 3 hospitals
- Florida$188.65
- Georgia$102.60
- Hawaii$219.80
- Idaho$111.80
- Illinois$115.44
- Indiana$175.80
- Iowa$69.19
- Kansas$97.16
- Kentucky$104.70
- Louisiana$76.59
- Maine$51.10
- Maryland$35.54, 2 hospitals
- Massachusetts$208.00
- Michigan$101.90
- Minnesota$77.42
- Mississippi$56.80
- Missouri$110.50
- Montana$43.90
- Nebraska$63.38
- Nevada$84.50
- New Hampshire$71.82
- New Jersey$372.02
- New Mexico$132.60
- New York$121.00
- North Dakota$60.80
- Ohio$154.70
- Oklahoma$61.80
- Oregon$77.73
- Pennsylvania$139.80
- Puerto Rico$50.50, 2 hospitals
- Rhode Island$179.83
- South Carolina$117.50
- South Dakota$163.60
- Tennessee$45.30
- Texas$111.30
- Utah$164.64
- Vermont$99.50
- Virginia$97.50
- Washington$111.36
- West Virginia$84.25
- Wisconsin$88.31
- Wyoming$91.00
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.