Why do many Chinese parents consider doctor, lawyer and accountant to be the "default" career for their children?

Think about yourself going to a country where you do not have any language skills. No family, no frields. No collateral to get a bank loan from anyone. You are a trained professional but you can't practice or get a job in your profession because you have no language skill. You are political refuge. You can't return to your country. Over the years you get a meanial service job and live sparingly, save every penny you can eventually build a family. Education is important but you don't want you children to have the same hardships that you did. You want them to have a career where they can be independent. A job where they own themselves and not taking orders from others. Each of these career paths, doctor, lawyer, accountant. They are helping people and contribute to society. That is a big notion in Chinese culture. We take while we are learning and growing but it is our duty to give back to society. There point is that all these careers allows people to be flexible. They can be part of a greater whole i.e. hospital, law firm or corporation or you can start your own business. The latter is important esp. for Asian parents who came in the 1890's. When the railroad was finished that left hundreds of Chinese out of work. They vowed that they would not be holden to anyone. They would be their own boss. Hence the growth of laundry on every corner and Chinese restaurants in every small town. They also escaped the bounds of discrimination. Every generation wants their kids to have a better life than their own. SO pushing kids into solid profession where they can build roots and make money and have a comfortable life is the key. The Chinese know that a career in Math and Science disciplines result in jobs aside from status in society which equates to respect which gains respectability etc. Life is never simple and Asians are very complex. You have to be a Chinese to really understand and know an Chinese.

1. Good pay...just do the straight path and you will have a good life. 2. Few social skills needed for the more technical jobs 3. Math intensive professions are the most prestigious for asians 4. Don't need to have connections or know a lot of people to do ok. 5. Tradition of Mandrin exams...lots of genetically inherited obsession with doing well in school and getting the brass ring. 6. Lack of imagination 7. Fear of the unknown 8. That is what they know and that is what the parents do 9. Perceived less discrimination...you pass these requirements, you should get a six figure job. 10. Social currency for bragging to friends. My son is a doctor, my daughter is a white shoe lawyer, etc.

reliable contracts, accountable employers, well educated colleagues and friends,  medium to upper level of the society,  great income, no frequent  over time no pressure from meeting sales target no entrepreneur risk minimal requirement on networking or communication, easier job as a manager and a chief on these posts.

Well, given the high unemployment rate with lawyers, lawyer as a career choice is falling out of favor.

"A bullet never knows the person it wounds." "Three important people in your life will always be a doctor, a judge, and an accountant." These careers are always consistent with the entrepreneurial mindset.

Being a Medical Doctor , Lawer or accountant may be the occupation of choice for immigrant Americans of Asian origins but the preferred choice in the homeland is usually based on pure practical science disciplines . The skills MDs and engineers  posses are considered even more valuable during crisis,conflicts and war (memories of the past).

this is a recipe for creating a child who becomes subservient and feels a failure  if they don't meet their parents' expectations. They may suffer in silence if "successful" in getting into medical school. As a medical doctor I would not pressure anyone to undertake this career path. You really need to want to do it and personally I had no demands placed on me to do it. There is a high risk of  mental ill health from excessive pressure from parents, but culturally the belief in entering secure professions is entrenched and will not change rapidly.

I'm not sure if you're asking why those careers, or why Asian parents desire those careers for their children. As most have answered the former, I'm going to try the latter, specifying Asians who live in Western countries.Children of Asian expats/immigrants often have to jump through lots of hoops to become residents of Western countries. To oversimplify, I will create two groups: skilled migrant parents, and unskilled migrant parents (using same definition of skilled and unskilled as conventionally used when describing workers).Skilled migrants learn that they got to immigrate more easily because of their skillset. They value highly skilled careers as such. Additionnally, if they were unable to secure the same job as they had in their home country, needing to settle for an unskilled position (e.g. Doctor in India becomes Taxi Driver in America), they understandable expect more of their children; pressuring them to enter these high paying fields, so that their sacrifice of their esteem and higher previous income feels worthwhile. Unskilled migrants might feel like they have something to prove, for being admitted into the country. They see their children as a reflection of their success as parents. They moved halfway around the world with the expectation that their offspring will exceed their parents.That's why it's painful for many if these parents to accept their children entering fields with less certain outcomes (i.e. humanities, but even sciences nowadays).

Because they see these professions as safe, respected careers that will bring their children prosperity and respect. Trust me, Chinese parents aren't unique in that.  Every jewish mother dreams ofmsaying " my son the  doctor. As Imwalked down the aisle to get my law degree, my mother yelled " you can still be a doctor!". Just kidding about that part, but she thought it. My wasp mother in law pushed her son  too. He didn't become one but his son did. He was pushed from birth. All our parents were raised in the depression, and  saw a   safe profession as insurance. Chinese parents aremthe same.