In this study, the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of wedge-shaped surface defect has been demonstrated using a photoacoustic microscope (PAM). The wedge-shaped defects with three kinds of different gradient were fabricated on a metal plate specimen by mechanical processing. The obtained photoacoustic (PA) phase signal distribution depends strongly upon the wedge shape of the defects. The relative gradient of the wedge-shaped defect calculated from phase signal distribution showed good agreement with the gradient value obtained from the measurement of the fabricated surface defect by the scanning laser microscope.