I'm instructing in LA, CA. I'm a independent CFI for a flying club. I get paid $50/hr. Every cfis at our club is pretty busy and making average of $4000 to $8000 per month. A lot of international students though due to pilot shortage in Asia. All international students are mostly in CA ,FL or AZ or maybe some in TX (but not Austin area). If you wanna make decent amount of money and hours these places are the place to go. Pay is better if you are independent cfi for a flying club rather than cfi for flight school. But you have to find students by yourself. School will NOT provide students for you. I fly 80 to 100hours + 50hours gnd lesson per month. Probably better pay than regional Captain. :) Good luck.

And that is exactly why i'm getting paid $30 an hour or more. I'm an independent CFI at a flying club as well. I can't really justify being an airline pilot when I get paid more to instruct. I mean that is the reason why we became pilots is to get PAID right?

Same deal though the flight school does not give students to you. They call the club, you pick up the phone and then we play in the sky.