In order to investigate the distribution characteristic of residual stress in targets directly irradiated by high power laser, the experiments of laser irradiation on 7075 aluminum alloy samples under the condition with or without absorbing layers are respectively conducted by means of Nd∶YAG laser, and the experimental results are compared. The results show that there are remelting layers and ablation spots on the sample surface after direct laser irradiation. The maximum tensile residual stress (TRS) distributed on the surface of samples reaches 116.2 MPa, the residual stress distribution in the depth direction of the sample is TRS-compressive residual stress (CRS)-TRS, the maximum CRS in the depth direction is 153.6 MPa, and the maximum micro-hardness in the depth direction is 174.5 HV. When the absorbing layer is included, there is a circular ablation zone on the surface of the absorbing layer, and the smooth dent appears on the sample surface after the removal of the remaining absorbing layer. The maximum CRS distributed on the surface of samples is 264.7 MPa, the residual stress distribution in the depth direction of the sample is CRS-TRS, the maximum CRS in the depth direction is 258.3 MPa, and the maximum micro-hardness in the depth direction is 193.6 HV.