FairWaitAverage cost of surgery at US hospitals
List prices and what's actually paid for common operations across US hospitals — official CMS data.
Compare hospitals near you →Typical cost of common operations at US hospitals
| Operation | Typical list price | Typically paid | Hospitals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart valve replacement via catheter (TAVR) | $189,460 | $40,033 | 690 |
| Heart bypass surgery (CABG) | $183,314 | $34,586 | 453 |
| Spinal fusion (lower back) | $144,936 | $31,128 | 656 |
| Shoulder or elbow replacement | $102,672 | $20,742 | 389 |
| Bowel surgery | $100,513 | $20,595 | 1,074 |
| Pacemaker fitting (inpatient) | $93,685 | $19,286 | 681 |
| Hip replacement after a hip fracture | $85,674 | $17,230 | 1,414 |
| Hip or knee replacement | $79,947 | $15,666 | 1,212 |
| Gallbladder removal (inpatient) | $82,409 | $14,015 | 597 |
| Weight-loss surgery | $65,660 | $13,974 | 74 |
| Joint replacement or major joint surgery (day case) | $53,820 | $11,730 | 2,645 |
| Cataract surgery | $10,662 | $2,085 | 1,382 |
Common questions
How much does surgery cost in the US?
It varies hugely by hospital and insurance. In 2024 Medicare data, the typical hospital billed $189,460 for heart valve replacement via catheter (TAVR) and was actually paid $40,033. Hospitals' list prices are usually far above what insurers and Medicare pay. Ask the hospital for its cash price or your insurer for an estimate before you go.
Source: CMS — Medicare Inpatient and Outpatient Hospitals by Provider and Service (2024). "Typical" is the median across hospitals of each hospital's average.