When it comes to making money in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), combat has traditionally been king. Bossing, Slayer, and high-level PvM methods have long dominated the GP-per-hour charts. Non-combat methods, on the other hand, often get deflated over time due to their low-effort nature and accessibility.
However, in recent years, Jagex has significantly improved skilling profitability, introducing several new, high-value methods that allow players to earn millions of OSRS gold without ever swinging a sword. In this guide, we’ll break down the most profitable skilling money makers in 2025, including some brand-new methods worth jumping on before prices settle.
1. Mining Infernal Shale
One of the newest and most profitable skilling methods in the game is mining Infernal Shale. The Crushed Infernal Shale created from this ore is used to craft the new Oath Plate armor, which has made it highly sought after on the Grand Exchange.
- Current price: ~2,500 GP each
- Requirements: 78 Mining or higher
- Gear: Dragon Pickaxe
- Location: Bottom of the Chasm of Fire, east of Yama
How it Works
You can mine the standard nodes normally, but bringing a chisel and hammer allows you to crush the shale into stackable Crushed Infernal Shale on-site — eliminating banking time. This alone can earn about 1M GP/hour with modest experience rates.
However, the real money lies in using Jim’s Wet Claw, an item dropped by a demon in the area. This allows for a tick manipulation method, where precise timing can yield up to 1,600 shale per hour — translating to around 4–5M GP/hour and ~70K Mining XP.
This method is incredibly strong right now due to market demand, so players with 78+ Mining should take advantage while prices remain high.
2. Smithing Oath Plate Armor
Following on from Infernal Shale is smithing Oath Plate armor, arguably the most profitable skilling method currently available in OSRS.
- Requirements: 83 Smithing
- Materials: 450 Oath Plate Shards + 2,500 Crushed Infernal Shale
- Profit: 12–15M GP/hour (with market awareness)
This process is unique because it’s continuous smithing—a long crafting chain where each step takes time and player input. You’ll refine Infernal Shale into an Infernal Blend, cool it into nuggets, forge plates, and finally smith them into Oath Plate pieces.
The full process takes around 15 minutes per piece, but the payoff is enormous. Each Oath Plate (especially the chest) can net over 3M GP profit, and skilled players can produce up to four per hour.
Just be mindful of market volatility — Oath Plate prices can fluctuate rapidly, and dumping large quantities can reduce profit margins due to the Grand Exchange tax and supply shifts.
3. Pickpocketing Elves (Thieving)
Thieving from Elves in Prifddinas remains one of the most reliable non-combat money makers in OSRS.
- Requirements: 85 Thieving, completion of Song of the Elves
- Profit: 3–4M GP/hour
- Experience: ~250K Thieving XP/hour
- Recommended Gear: Rogues Outfit (doubles loot), Shadow Veil spell, Dodgy Necklaces
This method shines thanks to the Enhanced Crystal Teleport Seed, which drops roughly once per hour and is worth about 3.5M GP. You’ll also earn crystal shards, which can be turned into divine potions for extra profit if you have 74–97 Herblore.
To optimize efficiency, use Redemption with Zamorak Brews to minimize downtime. It’s semi-AFK, highly consistent, and an excellent choice for players looking for strong profits without heavy clicking.
4. Zalcano – The Skilling Boss
Zalcano is one of the most overlooked skilling money makers in the game, and recent balance changes have made it better than ever.
- Requirements: 70 Mining, completion of Song of the Elves
- Profit: 2–4M GP/hour
- Experience: Up to 80K Mining XP/hour
After the removal of the forced “three-down” phase, kills are now much faster, and loot rates are better distributed. You can select between resource or experience loot modes, but even the XP-focused option yields crystal shards — the primary source of profit.
Bring stamina potions and a pickaxe, join a mass world or a small group, and you’ll easily maintain steady earnings while training Mining efficiently.
5. Mastering Mixology (Herblore Minigame)
The Mastering Mixology minigame from Varlamore offers a profitable and engaging way to train Herblore.
- Requirements: 60–81 Herblore
- Profit: 1–1.5M GP/hour
- Experience: ~80K Herblore XP/hour
Players create various potions using refined herbal pastes and accumulate points to purchase Chugging Barrels, which can then be sold for solid profit. While it doesn’t top the charts, it’s remarkable for turning what was once a money-draining skill into a sustainable moneymaker.
6. Runecrafting – Still a Classic
Runecrafting has always been a cornerstone of skilling money-making. Even in 2025, it remains consistently lucrative.
- Top-tier methods: Wrath Runes (95 RC), Aether Runes (99 RC) – 3M+ GP/hour
- Mid-tier: Blood Runes, Nature Runes – 1.5–2M GP/hour
- Low-tier: Cosmic, Mud, and Mist Runes – up to 1M GP/hour
Thanks to the Ring of the Elements, teleporting between altars is faster than ever, improving GP and XP rates across the board. No matter your level, Runecrafting always pays.
7. Hallowed Sepulchre (Agility)
The Hallowed Sepulchre is the best combination of Agility experience and profit in OSRS.
- Requirements: 92 Agility for all floors
- Profit: 1–1.7M GP/hour
- Experience: ~60–70K Agility XP/hour
While challenging, this activity rewards precise timing and focus. The main profit comes from Hallowed Marks and unique drops like the Ring of Endurance. Even without big-ticket drops, it’s a consistent and rewarding method.
8. Tan Leather Spell (Magic)
The Tan Leather spell from the Lunar Spellbook remains a top-tier, low-intensity money maker.
- Requirements: 78 Magic, completion of Fremennik Hard Diary
- Profit: ~1M GP/hour
- Experience: ~130K Magic XP/hour
Using black or red dragonhide yields the best results. Simply cast the spell five times per inventory, bank, and repeat. It’s one of the most accessible and AFK-friendly moneymakers available.
9. Wilderness Agility Course
A surprisingly strong option is the Wilderness Agility Course, especially after its rework.
- Requirements: 52 Agility
- Profit: 2M+ GP/hour
- Experience: 40K+ XP/hour
By depositing 150K GP into the dispenser, players earn loot and agility tickets that scale with time spent. Joining a Wilderness Agility Mass (via the “Agility FC” chat) minimizes PK risk and ensures steady profits.
10. Smithing Rune Bars (Blast Furnace)
Finally, the timeless classic: Smithing Rune Bars at the Blast Furnace.
- Requirements: 85 Smithing, Coal Bag
- Profit: 1.5M+ GP/hour
- Experience: ~90K Smithing XP/hour
Bring one inventory of Runite Ore and multiple loads of coal, and the Blast Furnace will do the heavy lifting. For lower levels, Adamant Bars can still yield over 1M GP/hour, making this method a staple for efficient smithing.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, skilling in OSRS is more profitable than ever. From mining Infernal Shale to crafting Oath Plate armor and beyond, non-combat methods are finally competing with high-tier PvM in terms of both GP and engagement.
If you have the levels — or the motivation to grind for them — now is the perfect time to capitalize on these lucrative methods before market adjustments set in.
If this guide helped you out, subscribe to RSorder for more Old School RuneScape content. Don’t forget to visit RSorder.com for top-tier Runescape gold for sale services. Good luck out there!
