A pole layer has: a first portion having an end face located in a medium facing surface; and a second portion that is located farther from the medium facing surface than the first portion and has a thickness greater than that of the first portion. A surface of the first portion farther from a substrate is located closer to the substrate than a surface of the second portion farther from the substrate. The second portion has a front end face that couples the surface of the first portion farther from the substrate to the surface of the second portion farther from the substrate. A shield layer has a portion located between the front end face and the medium facing surface in a region closer to the substrate than the surface of the second portion farther from the substrate.