I instructed for CIA in 2008 when the economy was falling apart and I never had trouble getting students or fying. I believe then It was $24hr with a CFI-I. You were also paid minimum wage for the time you were at the school, but not instructing. Aircraft were amazing, maintenance was top notch, the family that owned the place was just awful. We all had our problems with them. But if you stayed busy, you rarely saw or dealt with them. But that was the only draw back. I flew around 80-90hrs a month. The weather was never an issue, with the exception of strong Santa Ana winds from time to time. It is very easy to get an IFR to VFR on top, complete the lesson, and shoot an approach back in. My bring home check was between 1200 and 1500 every two weeks. I rented a house with some other guys and we each paid 500 for a three bedroom in Camarillo. Cost of living, I thought, was pretty reasonable. It's a place to make connections as well. I know people that went straight to a corporate jet for someone they were instructing, or with someone they checked out in an aircraft.