If you were in my town (well in Demmark...) i would gladly pay $25-30 per five hour session playing with you as the GM. Either that or a much bigger 'flat' amount - sort of paying an amount for the expensive 'material components' ;) (your books, miniatures, DF terrain etc etc).
But i agree that it can probably be difficult getting players that are friends/long time players to suddenly pay... But still i think it would warrent a talk with them about your past and future expenses (and time) put into GM'ing and that you are without a job. CERTAINLY to my mind it's then only reasonable, and just, that they share the burden - and pay you.
On a slightly different note, you could simply TRY it. Advertise a new gaming group/gaming night/open game table, and also advertise the price to play. You might end up pleasently surprised to see how many might show up, maybe some other types of players, than those you usually see too. Would be important to advertise broadly, in relevant forums and shops, clubs, word-of-mouth etc. And of course also important to give your game the proper time to grow. With your skill, experience and credentials, i reckon that even paying players would LOVE your game (and gaming place) and spread that by word-of-mouth. In my experience we value good games, and the time to play them, far mor than money...! (and a really good GM is hard to find id say).
I advertised my own Pathfinder open game table (sandbox, small home town with nearby homebrew megadungeon). I just advertised it ONCE, more than half a year ago, in a small danish online forum, and still just this past week i have had 3 people apply for the game... 3 people that i have NO idea about how they heard of the game.
My game is well full though - people DO love old schooly sandbox/megadungeon games, dont they :) !
This just got me thinking of maybe advertising a new game, with a fee. I see SO many eager (experienced as well as fresh) players, that DONT have a GM (or cant find a GOOD GM).
And, something else, if you ever do a Google + game, consider me interested. Well or if i come to San Antonio.