Now, I don't know what people consider a "crap" salary. I get being worried about student loans and paying them back or saving for the taxes at the end. Trust me, I am in the same boat.
I have been on a range of pay anywhere from $75k-95k over my almost 5 years out from school. I can tell you there is no significant appreciable difference in my take home pay because a good portion of what you take home also depends on your benefits and how much comes out for health insurance, taxes, etc. I can say that my lower income has less taken out as my health insurance is much better than it was with the higher income places, so overall the amount missing per each paycheck isn't a noticeable amount, at least in my experience.
Now as salaries get higher, yeah, you are going to notice a difference between $75k and $120k.
Having said that, I make less now than I have in the past. (Again less taken out of each paycheck though due to better benefits).
I have expense wise:
1. Mortgage
2. Car payment
3. Car insurance
4. Private student loans
5. Federal student loans
6. HOA
7. The typical utilities: electric, gas, home security, internet, cable/satellite, etc
8. The usual--- food, clothes, household needs, cleaning supplies, etc.
Despite all of this and not making what most would consider a "non-crap" salary, I am still dumping at least a few hundred sometimes up to $1000 into savings at the end of each month. Yes, not paying federal student loans for the last bit has helped some, but even then I was able to dump a decent amount into savings each month. I promise, you can still make it with a "lesser" salary. Yes, I won't save up as much or as fast as someone making $120k, but as long as you aren't a big spender outside of typical life, the occasional vacation, etc you will still save up money for tax purposes in 25 years.
Salary is important, but also do take into consideration your mental health. No amount of money is worth working at a place that doesn't fit for you. Find a good fit as best as you can for you physically, mentally and emotionally first, then financially. And no, I am not advocating to just settle for a salary, do some negotiations, know you are worthy to get paid a good amount, don't settle, but don't get blinded by big numbers either.
ETA: I don't have any children, spouse, etc that is tapping into any of my income either so those are things to think about as well. Children and SO's can be money pits.
I only have a single cat bidding for some of my income-- and she takes enough of it as times as it is.