St. Louis Blues

Anderson was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round, 117th overall, in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. The Blues had Anderson begin the 1981–82 season with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the CHL, where he recorded 32 goals and 64 points in 72 games, as well as 117 PIM. Anderson appeared in two playoff games with the Golden Eagles, scoring a goal. Anderson also had his first taste of the NHL in 1981–82, as he appeared in five games with the Blues, scoring a goal and two assists. Anderson then suited up for ten playoff games with St. Louis, scoring two goals.

Anderson spent the majority of the 1982–83 season with Salt Lake, earning 42 points in 57 games, along with 140 PIM, however, he was once again called up to St. Louis, where in 18 games, Anderson had five goals and seven points.

In the 1983–84 season, Anderson played in eight games with the Montana Magic of the CHL, where he had 10 points in eight games. He spent most of the season with St. Louis, where Anderson played in 50 games, earning 12 points, while accumulating 195 PIM. He was held pointless in nine playoff games, as he had 27 PIM.

Anderson spent the entire 1984–85 season with the Blues, earning 18 points in a career high 71 games. He appeared in three playoff games, as he was held pointless.

On August 29, 1985, the Blues traded Anderson to the New Jersey Devils for Rick Meagher and the Devils twelfth round draft pick in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.

New Jersey Devils

Anderson would score a career high 19 points with the Devils in the 1985–86 season in 51 games, as he had seven goals and twelve assists, however, the Devils did not advance to the playoffs.

He would match his career high 19 points in 1986–87, as he had a career best ten goals for New Jersey in 57 games. The Devils would once again fail to make the playoffs. Anderson also had a stint with the Maine Mariners of the AHL, earning nine points in nine games.

In 1987–88, Anderson saw his production drop, as he had only ten points in 60 games, his lowest point total since the 1982-83 season. Anderson also saw his penalty minutes jump, as he had a career high 222. In the playoffs, Anderson had no points in ten games, while recording a Devils playoff record 113 penalty minutes.

He ran into some injury problems in the 1988–89 season, as Anderson dressed for only 39 games with New Jersey, earning nine points, as well as 128 PIM.

Anderson spent the entire 1989–90 season with the Utica Devils of the AHL, where he scored 13 goals and 30 points in 71 games. Most of the 1990-91 season was spent in Utica once again, as Anderson had 19 goals and 33 points in 68 games, as well as 245 PIM. Anderson did spend a part of the season in New Jersey, where he appeared in only one regular season game, going pointless, before earning an assist in four playoff games with the Devils.

On July 8, 1991, Anderson left the Devils as a free agent, as he signed with the San Jose Sharks.

San Jose Sharks

Anderson once again had a regular spot in the NHL, as he appeared in 48 games with the expansion team San Jose Sharks, earning 12 points while posting 143 PIM. It would be Anderson's only season in San Jose.

Minor leagues

Anderson signed with the San Diego Gulls of the IHL for the 1992–93 season, where he had 21 points in 51 games before going pointless in five playoff games.

Anderson finished his career with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL in 1993–94, where he appeared in only two games, going pointless, while having 21 PIM. He retired from hockey following the season.