I was in your situation a couple years ago.
Here's what I would recommend: Get a student credit card or something similar (eg, Bank of America Student Platinum Plus) or Chase + 1 and use it wisely for 6
months or so.
After the 6 months, you can apply for Amex - you should get approved. That's what I did, and it worked for me. Since then, I've applied for many cc's with big bonuses and I've been approved for all. Your salary will not make a difference - it's all about the history!
Good luck!