Is it really a low-paid and low status job in America?

I'm a CO in Canada. It's a sought-after government, unionized career with great benefits and an even better pension. A lot of my co-workers have post-secondary educations (I am a trained paramedic) and many came to this job from other careers (my partner today was previously a math teacher).

While I wish we got paid more (who doesn't) the reality is that we make decent enough money, the top of the pay scale clears $70-80k and a little OT puts many of us above $100k.

I can't wrap my head around private prisons in the US, but surely the job isn't as lowly down there as you make it sound.