When applying for an American Express credit card, one of the key factors they consider is your income. Specifically, American Express wants to see that you have enough income to comfortably make payments on any balances you accrue. So how much income do you need to get approved for an Amex card?
Amex Minimum Income Requirements
American Express does not publish specific minimum income requirements. However, most sources suggest you’ll need an annual income of at least $20,000 to $25,000 to be approved for an Amex card. Some reports indicate that you may need an income closer to $35,000 if you want premium cards like the Platinum Card from American Express.
It’s important to note that these are general guidelines only. American Express looks at your entire financial profile when reviewing your application, including your income, debts, assets, credit score and history with American Express. So it’s possible to be approved with a lower income or denied with a higher income depending on your overall finances.
Factors That Affect Amex Income Requirements
Here are some key factors that can impact the minimum income you need for approval from American Express:
- Your credit score – Applicants with excellent credit scores may be approved with lower incomes, while those with poor scores may need higher incomes to compensate.
- Your existing debts – If you already have high debts relative to your income, American Express may want to see a higher income.
- Other assets – Significant assets like savings can offset a lower income when applying.
- Your credit history – Applicants with short credit histories are generally required to have higher incomes.
- The Amex card you want – More premium cards require higher incomes for approval.
As a rule of thumb, the higher your credit score and the lower your debts, the more flexibility you’ll have with the income requirements.
Does Amex Request Proof of Income?
American Express generally does not ask for proof of income such as pay stubs or W-2s when you apply. However, they may request income verification if they are unable to confirm your income from other sources.
During the application, you will need to provide your employer’s name and your annual personal and household income. Amex may verify this information on your credit report or through other means. If they cannot confirm your reported income, they may ask you to provide documentation.
Income Requirements for Different Amex Cards
While Amex does not publish definitive income requirements, various sources provide estimates on how much income you may need for different card products based on applicant data. Here are some rough guidelines:
Amex EveryDay Credit Cards
For the no annual fee Amex EveryDay Card or Amex EveryDay Preferred Card, the income requirement is estimated to be on the lower end of Amex’s range:
- Minimum personal income: $20,000
Amex Gold Card and Green Card
For the mid-tier American Express Gold Card and Green Card, which have annual fees of $250 and $150, respectively, you may need a personal income closer to:
- Minimum personal income: $25,000
Amex Platinum Card
The premium Platinum Card has a much higher annual fee of $695, so Amex is looking for higher income applicants who can manage the annual fee. Many reports suggest you may need:
- Minimum personal income: $35,000-$40,000
Amex Business Cards
For business credit cards like the Business Platinum or Business Gold Rewards card, Amex will look at your business’s revenue rather than your personal income. Suggested minimums include:
- Minimum business revenue: $50,000
However, for sole proprietor business cards, your personal credit and income will also be considered.
Does Amex Approve Low Income Applicants?
American Express cards have a reputation for being geared towards affluent customers, but Amex does approve applicants across the income spectrum. Many cardholders report being approved for Amex cards with personal incomes under $20,000 and even as low as $12,000.
The key is having good to excellent credit. If you have a long history of responsible credit management, including paying balances off in full each month, you have a strong chance of approval even with a lower income.
Strategies for Low Income Approval
Here are some tips that can help increase your chances of getting approved for an Amex card if you have a lower income:
- Apply for a no annual fee Amex card like the EveryDay Card
- Aim for credit scores above 700
- Keep credit card balances low
- Highlight other assets like savings
- Become an authorized user on someone else’s Amex account first
Being an Authorized User Helps
Becoming an authorized user on another American Express cardholder’s account for 6 months or longer can help demonstrate you can manage an Amex account responsibly before applying for your own card. This establishes a credit history with Amex which can compensate for a lower income.
Increasing Your Chances of Approval
While income level matters, having the strongest possible credit profile will do the most to influence your approval odds with Amex. Here are some tips to boost your credit and chances of success:
- Pay all bills on time – payment history is the biggest factor in your scores
- Keep credit card balances low
- Limit new credit card applications – too many can signal risk
- Correct any errors on your credit reports
- Become an authorized user on a credit card if possible
With excellent credit stats, you can meet Amex’s strict approval standards even with lower incomes. Monitor your credit with a free service like Credit Karma so you’ll know where you stand.
How Much Credit Limit Will You Get?
While creditworthiness determines if you’ll be approved, your income level is a major factor in determining your credit limit on an Amex card. The higher your income, the higher the limit you can usually qualify for.
With lower incomes, expect initial Amex limits in the $1,000 to $5,000 range in most cases. But after a few months of on-time payments, you may be able to request a credit limit increase, especially if your income has risen.
Start Low and Ask for Increases
Many applicants start with a lower entry-level Amex card and income, then request higher limits and graduate to premium cards over time. As American Express sees you can manage credit responsibly, they will extend more credit to reward loyal cardholders.
Using Supplementary Cardholders
If you have a spouse or family member with higher income, Amex allows them to be added as a supplementary cardholder to your account. Their income can help you qualify for a higher limit. However, the primary cardholder’s credit score and history will still be the main factor.
Examples of Income Needed for Different Limits
While not definitive requirements, here are some examples reported by Amex cardholders of the incomes associated with different credit limit approvals:
| Personal Income | Initial Amex Limit |
| $20,000 | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| $75,000 | $15,000 – $25,000 |
| $150,000 | $50,000+ |
Higher six-figure incomes can qualify for Amex’s highest limits, which can exceed $100,000 depending on your total financial profile.
Using Business Revenue for Higher Limits
With business credit cards, your business revenue rather than personal income determines the credit limit. To qualify for higher limits above $25,000+, reported annual business revenues of $100,000 to $500,000+ are often needed.
Ask for a Limit Increase
Don’t be afraid to request a higher limit once you’ve held the card a few months and made on-time payments. Income is one factor Amex looks at when reviewing these requests. Showing your income has increased improves your chances of approval if you ask for more credit.
The Bottom Line
While Amex sets their own underwriting policies for approval, for the best chances you will want an annual income of $20,000+ when applying for your first card. But an exceptional credit profile can outweigh the lack of a high income in many cases. Focus on maintaining excellent credit, limiting debts and highlighting any assets you have to better your odds.
