That's what I thought about the low pay and comment "Don (Jon Hamm) would probably make less than today's median salary." No way could he live on that in today's New York.

Pete Campbell couldn't afford the mortgage on his apartment either. Don't they go for 1 million and up these days?

Of course $81,000 back then was about $72,000 after taxes, not $58,000 like it is now.

i saw that as well and it doesn't make any sense. in season one don is given a raise to $45,000. that easily equates to $250,000-$275,000 in todays money.so i don't know what they're talking about. you can't have the lifestyle he leads on $81 k per year, no way.

according to measuringworth.com $45000 in 1960 has the equivelant "purchasing power" of $315,000 today.

Darlings,

My boss, the EVP of the #3 ad agency in NY was making $60,000 in 1965. As his secretary, I was making $85 a week. Don mentioned Jim Jordan as a millionaire in the episode when the McCann guy was talking to him during Fiorello...nope. Jim Jordan WAS the son of Fibber McGee, but was only making about $35,000. Maybe when he opened his own agency, he was making a million. He was a good friend and I miss him.

Don is making quite a lot of money as some viewers have already pointed out. He has hit the upper middle class quite squarely, for a person who grew up on a farm. His house, their apparently full-time maid, his wife's horse riding...all are signs of affluence. He is not just middle class so he has a lot to lose if something bad happens to him.

Don't forget, Don is also a partner at S&C, so he gets a share of the profits, too. Remember Bert Cooper saying to him "We'll start you at 12%" in the episode where Don is made partner (I think it was Long Weekend, when Roger had his heart attack). So he is doing quite well.

Hapynzap:
I believe the purchase price quoted for the apartment was about $35,000. Which was just a whole lot more than Pete thought they could afford on his $75/week.