have a cushy government job or a tenure acadamic job guaranting them lifetime job security. Lawyers in the States almost make nothing unless they work for these top big firms at the Wall Street, but these law firms usually look for Harvard or Yale law graudates. It is hard to break in into these firms.  I don't think that Japanese lawyer makes it in New York City if he didn't marry the Japan royalty.  He couldn't even pass the NY bar exam. 

Many dentiststs live in their parent's basement in NYC.  They are struggling to meet day end's meet and desperately seek clients.  So they don't go bankrupted and lose their practice.

It is true some immigrants make it big, but they have some truly rare engineering talents and skills hightly seeked after everywhere. They make millions of dollars a year. They live a high life in these Mahattan penthouses

But they are the exceptional. Very fews.  Maybe one in tens of thousands.