Techniques for scheduling users for transmission on the uplink in a wireless communication system are described. In one design, a total load for a cell may be determined based on a rise-over-thermal (RoT) measurement. An in-cell load for users served by the cell may be determined based on uplink transmissions received from these users. An outside load due to users in neighbor cells may be determined based on the total load and the in-cell load. A target total load for the cell may be determined based on a target RoT for the cell. An available load for the cell may be determined based on the target total load for the cell and the outside load. Users in the cell may be scheduled for transmission on the uplink based on the available load for the cell.