Pearce worked at numerous radio stations in the pre-television era, he had started at 2CH as an announcer upon arriving in Sydney from England. Upon relocating to Melbourne in 1940 he worked at 3XY in radio drama and as a studio manager. In 1942, after his war service, he transferred to 3DB as the chief announcer and feature compere. At 3DB he planned drama and music programmes, "Life of Melba", "Opera for the People" and "The Amazing Oscar Hammerstein"; and the "Mobil Quest". He also hosted the annual Radio Hospital Appeal for four years.