10 Best World of Warcraft Professions For Making Gold

Making gold in World of Warcraft isn’t just about farming mobs or flipping items on the Auction House—your choice of profession can make a huge difference. Whether you’re a new player trying to build your first stash or a seasoned veteran looking to stack gold fast, picking the right profession is key. Some are great for passive income, while others thrive on crafting valuable gear or consumables. In this guide, we’ll break down the 10 best World of Warcraft professions for making gold, how each one works, and why they’re worth your time.

#10: Tailoring

Tailoring might not seem like a top gold-maker at first glance, but it has steady potential—especially if you’re on a cloth-wearing class or farming humanoids regularly. You don’t need gathering professions to support it since Tailoring uses cloth drops from mobs, which makes it easy to level up as you quest and farm.

What makes it profitable is crafting high-demand items like bags, spellcloth, and raid-ready gear—especially early in expansions when players rush to gear up. Bags in particular are always in demand, especially 16-slot or larger versions. If you keep an eye on your server’s Auction House and focus on selling popular patterns, Tailoring can become a solid, low-maintenance way to generate gold over time.

#9: Inscription

Inscription is one of those underrated professions that can quietly bring in a steady flow of gold—if you know what to focus on. It allows you to create glyphs, Darkmoon cards, missives, vantus runes, and other consumables that are always in demand, especially during raid tiers and major content patches.

The real gold-making power comes from selling glyphs and Darkmoon card sets, particularly early in expansions when players are looking to min-max their builds or chase trinkets. Glyphs don’t always sell in bulk, but with low crafting costs and decent margins, they can add up quickly. Inscription also gives access to shoulder enchants, contracts for reputation grinding, and even cosmetic items that sell surprisingly well. If you’re patient and keep your Auction House stocked, Inscription can be a quiet gold-making machine.

#8: Leatherworking

Leatherworking is a solid gold-making profession, especially if you’re playing a class that benefits from it like Rogues, Druids, or Hunters. It allows you to craft high-demand gear pieces, armor kits, and profession-specific items that are often valuable during the early and mid-stages of an expansion.

One of the best ways to profit from Leatherworking is by selling crafted gear early on when players are gearing up for dungeons and raids. You can also make gold from armor patches, drums, and leg enchants—items that players need consistently. Pairing it with Skinning gives you easy access to the materials you’ll need, making it a self-sufficient gold-making combo. While it may not be as flashy as some other professions, Leatherworking holds steady value if you keep up with crafting trends and know what the market wants.

#7: Skinning

Skinning is one of the most straightforward and consistent gold-making professions in WoW. It pairs perfectly with Leatherworking but also stands strong on its own. As you kill beasts during your quests or farming routes, you can skin them for valuable materials like leather, hides, and scales—many of which are always in demand on the Auction House.

What makes Skinning so reliable is that it turns your regular grinding or leveling into a gold-making opportunity without extra effort. High-level mobs and rare beast zones can drop rare leathers or crafting mats that fetch solid prices, especially early in expansions when professions are booming. It’s also low-maintenance and doesn’t require any crafting—just gather and sell. If you’re looking for a simple, no-fuss way to earn gold while playing normally, Skinning is a solid pick.

#6: Mining

Mining is one of the best gathering professions for making gold, especially early in an expansion when crafting mats are in high demand. You’ll gather ores, stones, and rare gems as you explore the world—materials that crafters need for Blacksmithing, Engineering, and Jewelcrafting. These items sell fast on the Auction House and can earn you a steady stream of gold with little setup.

What makes Mining even more valuable is that you can farm while leveling or questing, turning downtime into profit. Some high-tier ores and rare nodes can sell for massive amounts, especially during the first few weeks of new content. Pair it with a crafting profession or simply sell your materials raw—either way, Mining is a consistent and low-effort gold-maker that pays off big over time.

#5: Herbalism

Herbalism is a top-tier gathering profession for steady gold income, especially during the early weeks of a new expansion when herbs are in massive demand. As you explore the world, you’ll collect herbs used in Alchemy and Inscription—two professions that rely heavily on plant materials to craft potions, flasks, glyphs, and more.

What makes Herbalism great for making gold is its simplicity and constant demand. Raiding, PvP, and Mythic+ players always need consumables, which keeps herb prices competitive on the Auction House. Pairing Herbalism with Alchemy can boost profits even more, but it also works great solo if you prefer selling raw materials. Whether you’re gathering while questing or doing focused farming routes, Herbalism remains one of the most profitable and beginner-friendly professions in the game.

#4: Blacksmithing

Blacksmithing is a powerful gold-making profession, especially if you’re playing a plate-wearing class or want to supply gear to others. It allows you to craft weapons, armor, and enhancement items that are in high demand—especially early in expansions or during new raid tiers when players are looking to gear up quickly.

The real value in Blacksmithing comes from high-demand items like crafted weapons, raid-ready gear, sharpening stones, and armor enhancements. These can sell for a premium when the timing is right. Combining Blacksmithing with Mining makes the profession even more efficient, letting you gather your own materials to cut down on crafting costs. While it requires some investment and pattern knowledge, Blacksmithing can bring in solid gold if you stay updated on what’s popular and craft items players actually need.

#3: Alchemy

Alchemy is one of the most consistent and reliable professions for making gold in World of Warcraft. It allows you to craft essential consumables like potions, flasks, and elixirs that players constantly need for raiding, Mythic+, PvP, and leveling. Because these items are always in demand, especially during progression or content releases, Alchemy never really goes out of style.

One of the best parts about Alchemy is that most items sell quickly and often in bulk. You can also benefit from procs that give you extra potions or flasks, increasing your profit margin. Pairing Alchemy with Herbalism lets you gather your own mats, but even buying herbs and crafting smartly can still be very profitable. If you want steady gold with minimal risk and a fast-selling product, Alchemy is easily one of the top professions to pick.

#2: Enchanting

Enchanting is one of the most profitable professions in WoW, especially if you’re active in the Auction House or run a lot of dungeons. It allows you to enchant gear with powerful bonuses, and more importantly, it gives you the ability to disenchant unwanted items into valuable materials like dust, essences, and shards.

These materials are always in demand because players constantly need enchants for their gear in raids, PvP, and Mythic+. Even if you’re not crafting the enchants yourself, selling the raw materials can bring in steady gold. Plus, during new raid tiers or expansions, prices for enchants spike as players upgrade their gear. If you want a profession that turns useless gear into real value—and gives you consistent selling opportunities—Enchanting is a gold-maker you shouldn’t overlook.

#1: Jewelcrafting

Jewelcrafting takes the top spot as the best profession for making gold in World of Warcraft, and for good reason. It offers a wide range of profitable options—from cutting and selling high-demand gems to crafting trinkets, rings, and necklaces that players need throughout every phase of content. Especially in the early weeks of an expansion or new raid tier, demand for gems skyrockets as players rush to optimize their gear.

What makes Jewelcrafting truly stand out is its flexibility. You can earn gold by selling raw gems, cut gems with popular stats, or even crafting and selling rare-quality jewelry. Some expansions also include daily cooldowns or shuffle methods that let you turn cheap materials into profitable items. Pair it with Mining to gather your own ore, or buy mats and focus purely on crafting. No matter how you play it, Jewelcrafting consistently delivers high-value sales and is one of the most rewarding professions for gold-focused players.

Conclusion

Picking the right profession in World of Warcraft can completely change how fast you earn gold, and the options on this list are some of the best ways to do it. Whether you prefer crafting gear, gathering materials, or selling high-demand consumables, there’s a profession that fits your playstyle and keeps your gold flowing. From the simplicity of gathering with Herbalism or Mining to the high-profit potential of Jewelcrafting and Enchanting, each one offers something unique. If you’re serious about building up your gold stash and staying ahead of the economy, choosing one (or two) of these top professions is a smart move that pays off in every expansion.