Little thread drift here redsnail, but although you are correct about pay as far as PPL/smaller ATO instructors are concerned, the more prominent ATO's don't pay too badly. Not suggesting you'd make the money over an instructing career that a NJE or BA pilot would over theirs, but I understand that it's acceptable - which it should be when you consider how much an integrated CPL/IR with MCC costs these days.
I know of several FI's in the U.S. employed by these same European ATO's who are building their 1500 hours whilst saving enough to support themselves for when they eventually progress up to the significantly lower paid regionals.