Skilling money making methods
Gathering and non-combat methods that raise a skill while they earn.
Skilling money makers have a quality that combat methods usually lack: the levels you gain are permanent progress toward something else. Mining amethyst pays reasonably and also moves you toward a 99 you might want anyway.
Rates are generally lower than PvM, but so is the requirement to have gear, know mechanics or risk anything.
24 methods
Herb runs
Plant herb seeds across every patch you have unlocked, then return around 80 minutes later to harvest.
- Est. GP/hr
- 1m–4m
- Starting GP
- 500k
- Attention
- Very AFK
- Requirements
- 32 Farming
Black chinchompa hunting
Trap black chinchompas in the Wilderness. Excellent GP and Hunter experience, with genuine risk of being killed by other players.
- Est. GP/hr
- 800k–1.8m
- Starting GP
- 50,000
- Attention
- Hands-on
- Requirements
- 73 Hunter
Elf pickpocketing
Pickpocket elves in Prifddinas for enhanced crystal teleport seeds and a large, consistent coin income.
- Est. GP/hr
- 1m–1.5m
- Starting GP
- 100k
- Attention
- Hands-on
- Requirements
- 85 Thieving
Blood rune crafting
Craft blood runes at the Arceuus altar. Profitable, requires no running, and the runes are permanently in demand.
- Est. GP/hr
- 900k–1.4m
- Starting GP
- 200k
- Attention
- Moderate attention
- Requirements
- 77 Runecraft
Vyrewatch Sentinels
Pickpocket Vyrewatch Sentinels in Darkmeyer for blood shards and a steady coin income.
- Est. GP/hr
- 800k–1.3m
- Starting GP
- 100k
- Attention
- Hands-on
- Requirements
- 82 Thieving
Red chinchompas
Box trap red chinchompas outside the Wilderness. Strong income and the fastest Hunter experience without the risk of black chins.
- Est. GP/hr
- 700k–1.2m
- Starting GP
- 20,000
- Attention
- Hands-on
- Requirements
- 63 Hunter
Hallowed Sepulchre
The only Agility training in the game that pays. Loot coffins while running an obstacle course against a timer.
- Est. GP/hr
- 500k–1.2m
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Hands-on
- Requirements
- 52 Agility
Guardians of the Rift
The Runecraft minigame that pays while it trains, and needs nothing to start.
- Est. GP/hr
- 600k–1.1m
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Moderate attention
- Requirements
- 27 Runecraft
Teak trees
Teak logs feed Construction, so demand is constant. Two-tick cutting produces both the fastest experience and the best rate.
- Est. GP/hr
- 300k–900k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Hands-on
- Requirements
- 35 Woodcutting
Ardougne knight pickpocketing
Pickpocket knights in East Ardougne for a steady coin income while training Thieving.
- Est. GP/hr
- 300k–800k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Moderate attention
- Requirements
- 55 Thieving
Herbiboar
Track herbiboar on Fossil Island for grimy herbs. No combat, no risk, and it feeds Herblore directly.
- Est. GP/hr
- 500k–800k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Moderate attention
- Requirements
- 80 Hunter, 31 Herblore
Karambwan fishing
Fish raw karambwan, which are always in demand because they can be eaten in the same tick as another food.
- Est. GP/hr
- 400k–700k
- Starting GP
- 50,000
- Attention
- Moderate attention
- Requirements
- 65 Fishing
Anglerfish
The most AFK profitable fishing in the game. Anglerfish heal above your maximum hitpoints, so demand is permanent.
- Est. GP/hr
- 350k–600k
- Starting GP
- 20,000
- Attention
- Very AFK
- Requirements
- 82 Fishing
Tree runs
Plant trees and fruit trees, then return hours later. Enormous Farming experience for a few minutes of play.
- Est. GP/hr
- 200k–600k
- Starting GP
- 300k
- Attention
- Very AFK
- Requirements
- 15 Farming
Amethyst mining
Mine amethyst in the Mining Guild for consistent, near-AFK income.
- Est. GP/hr
- 250k–400k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Very AFK
- Requirements
- 92 Mining
Wintertodt
A group minigame that trains Firemaking quickly and rewards crates containing ores, herbs, seeds and gems.
- Est. GP/hr
- 150k–400k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Moderate attention
- Requirements
- 50 Firemaking
Redwood logs
The most AFK tree in the game. Redwoods need a click every thirty seconds or so and the logs bank well.
- Est. GP/hr
- 250k–400k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Very AFK
- Requirements
- 90 Woodcutting
Motherlode Mine
Mine pay-dirt for a mix of ores and the prospector outfit. Steady rather than spectacular, and very forgiving.
- Est. GP/hr
- 150k–300k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Low attention
- Requirements
- 30 Mining
Birdhouse runs
Set four birdhouses on Fossil Island and collect them fifty minutes later. Passive Hunter experience and seeds.
- Est. GP/hr
- 100k–300k
- Starting GP
- 50,000
- Attention
- Very AFK
- Requirements
- 5 Hunter
Gold ore mining
Mine and bank gold ore. A step up from iron for free players, available at Mining 40.
- Est. GP/hr
- 130k–250k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Moderate attention
- Requirements
- 40 Mining
Yew log cutting
Cut and bank yew logs. The long-standing free-to-play income route, and it costs nothing to start.
- Est. GP/hr
- 80,000–160k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Very AFK
- Requirements
- 60 Woodcutting
Lobster fishing
Catch lobsters at Karamja and bank them. The long-standing free-to-play Fishing income.
- Est. GP/hr
- 70,000–150k
- Starting GP
- 5,000
- Attention
- Low attention
- Requirements
- 40 Fishing
Iron ore mining
Mine and bank iron ore. Available at Mining 15 with no other requirements at all.
- Est. GP/hr
- 60,000–140k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Moderate attention
- Requirements
- 15 Mining
Air rune crafting
Craft air runes at the Falador altar. Available from Runecraft 1 and one of very few free-to-play Runecraft options.
- Est. GP/hr
- 40,000–120k
- Starting GP
- None
- Attention
- Moderate attention
- Requirements
- 1 Runecraft
What to know about this category
The best skilling money is usually not the best skilling experience
Methods optimised for GP and methods optimised for experience are rarely the same. Decide which you are doing before you start, because trying to do both usually means doing neither well.
Gathering scales with your level, not your bank
Unlike trading, skilling income is capped by what you can produce per hour. That makes it reliable but hard to scale — the ceiling moves only when your level does.