A method for uplink closed loop power control in advanced wireless systems which adaptively adjusts target signal-to-interference noise ratio (SINRtarget) in order to achieve the best uplink throughput of data services is disclosed. To derive the desired target SINR, the system collects and evaluates various uplink parameters as inputs: real-time signal-to-interference noise ratio of data physical channel, terminal power headroom, and terminal buffer data status and data service requirements.