Shipka's received praise for her performance on Mad Men. In naming her as his dream nominee for the "Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series" Emmy Award, Austin American-Statesman critic Dale Roe remarked, "This 10-year-old actress was so affecting as troubled Sally Draper last season that it seems odd that she's only just been upgraded to series regular. If Shipka's upcoming Mad Men work—struggling with the broken marriage of her parents and entering preteendom in the tumultuous 1960s—remains as amazing as it was in season three, this is a ballot wish that could come true next year."[6] Initially a recurring guest star, Shipka was upgraded to a series regular with the start of season four.[2] She got the part after two auditions.[7]
Shipka's post-production Mad Men credits include Flowers in the Attic as Cathy and Kat in the 2015 Oz Perkins horror film, February.[8]
In 2014, Shipka was named one of "The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014" by Time magazine.[9]