Which is why I used the national median. And also pointed out the skewing. Since there are a ton of SWE in SF making 140-190k (and more with experience + title increases). But you're unlikely to make anywhere near that in Indianapolis, Cleveland, Mobile, etc.

Petroleum engineers, on the other hand, make 100+k in pretty much any region.

Well being a petroleum engineer does limit you to regions that have oil and gas (or I guess you could work at a refinery too), but I see your point that there are some engineers who are compensated similarly to software engineers. I am not sure what their hiring process is like though.