Carey Baker was born in Eustis, Florida. He graduated from Tavares High School in Lake County. After high school, he attended Lake-Sumter Community College.

When Baker was 18 years old, he joined the family business, the A.W. Peterson Gun Shop. The A.W. Peterson Gun Shop is the oldest gun shop in the United States.

Baker joined the Army National Guard. He is still an active member, having served over 28 years and having attained the rank of First Sergeant. In 2003, while a Member of the Florida House of Representatives, Baker was deployed to combat missions in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was the first state or federal elected official to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom while in office. His colleagues tied a yellow ribbon around Baker’s chair which remained in place until his safe return.

Carey Baker successfully ran for the Florida House of Representatives in 2000. Baker was reelected to the House in 2002. In 2004, Baker won a special election for the 20th district seat in the Florida Senate.

In 2012, he was elected to the position of Property Appraiser of Lake County, FL.