A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes a first laminate including first semiconductor layers having a first Al composition, and second semiconductor layers having a second Al composition greater than the first Al composition; a current confinement structure including a current aperture and a current blocker; a first compound semiconductor layer adjacent to the current confinement structure; and a second compound semiconductor layer adjacent to the first laminate and the first compound semiconductor layer. The first compound semiconductor layer has a first aluminum profile changing monotonously in a direction from the first laminate to the current confinement structure from a first minimum Al composition within a range greater than the first Al composition and smaller than the second Al composition to a first maximum Al composition. The second compound semiconductor layer has an Al composition greater than the first Al composition and smaller than the first maximum Al composition.