Provided is an apparatus for automatic gain control (AGC) widely used in a receiver of a wireless communication system. The receiver of a wireless communication system includes: a step variable gain amplifier and an analog variable gain amplifier disposed in the path of a wireless signal and amplifying the wireless signal; an analog gain control unit for generating a gain control voltage for feedback-controlling an amplification value of the analog variable gain amplifier; a digital gain control unit for receiving the control voltage and generating a digital code determining an amplification value of the step variable gain amplifier. The apparatus for AGC constituted as described above can reduce power consumption and the number of devices by efficiently running an AGC loop in an analog domain, and can be embodied at low cost in a structure appropriately controlling the step gain amplifier and the analog gain amplifier.