....and here for Australia https://www.bitre.gov.au/statistics/...px#anc_summary
General aviation hours flown by VH-registered aircraft increased by 2.1 per cent to 1.23 million hours. Instructional flying increased by 8.7 per cent to 390 thousand hours, and Sport and pleasure flying increased by 8.7 per cent to 235 thousand hours. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in Aerial Work (down 4.5 per cent to 439 thousand hours), and Own use business flying (down 2.0 per cent to 134 thousand hours).

I recall paying $12/hr ($14 dual) for a Cherokee 140 from RVAC in the late 1960's. My first full time flying job in '69 paid $47/week based in Darwin.

So things don't seem that different now, just over 25% of average weekly salary for an hours flying, provided you can actually get a job.