A surface-emitting semiconductor laser has a semiconductor structure that includes a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, and a side surface that extends from the second side to the first side; a first electrode provided on the first side of the semiconductor structure; and a second electrode provided on the first side of the semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure also includes a substrate, a first stacked semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate, an active layer disposed on the first stacked semiconductor layer, and a second stacked semiconductor layer disposed on the active layer. The first stacked semiconductor layer includes a first distributed Bragg reflector, and the second stacked semiconductor layer includes a second distributed Bragg reflector. The semiconductor structure side surface has at least an upper surface that is free of chipping.