Thanks Jonkster.
I have a rate for supervised solo that reflects that the instructor also gets paid a lower hourly rate for supervision than if they are flying. Sure they might be "double dipping" if they are doing another flight while the student is out solo, but they still have a double responsibility at the time...plus they have to stay at the airport until the student returns.
It would be very unreasonable to expect the instructor to take on that responsibility for "free" and sure, there is not enough fat around to cover the wages if the student is given the aircraft at the hire rate.
A lot of people want things for nothing when they are students and feel they are getting ripped off when in fact what they want to do is rip off the instructor...then want a fair rate when they become instructors.
The rate isn't just their wages, partly as a return on their investment in becoming an instructor; but also the cost to the school of their induction course, drug testing, standardisation check rides, renewals, uniforms, super, compo, etc etc. Now some schools cheat on that with sham contracting, which is disgraceful and no instructor should ever accept that. The other thing is the trend to charge a big chunk for pre flight briefings and only give the instructor a paltry 20% or so of what they charge.
So to agree with Jonkster, the hourly rate is not a guide to the value you will get per dollar. Get a different junior instructor with their heads in the clouds each time and watch the money disappear without you getting value for it.
And never, ever pay up front for flying training. If a school demands that they may be trading insolvent and then you (and your instructor) will be an unsecured creditor if/when the locks get changed.