After completing his education and Army stint, he resumed his announcing and sportscasting duties at WCEN in October 1952.

In June 1956, Carey joined the announcing staff at WJR in Detroit, Michigan, and worked there until his retirement in January 1992.

During his tenure, he did pre- and post-game shows for Detroit Lions radio broadcasts; served as a play-by-play announcer for Detroit Pistons basketball for six seasons (1969-70 through 1972–73, 1975–76, and 1981–82); and originated and hosted a Michigan High School football and basketball scoreboard program.

In December 1990, Harwell held a press conference to announce that WJR and the Tigers had forced him out of his position, and that the 1991 season would be his last.

At the same press conference, Carey announced - in an unrelated decision made several months earlier - that he would retire at the end of the season.

Carey died on April 12, 2016, in Rochester, Michigan, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), at the age of 88.