Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. A wireless communication device may determine a plurality of differential back-off values based at least in part on at least one of a set of parameter values relating to one or more of a plurality of uplink carriers associated with uplink carrier aggregation or any uplink grants associated with the plurality of uplink carriers. The plurality of differential back-off values may relate to a specific absorption rate (SAR) back-off or a thermal back-off of the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device may apply the plurality of differential back-off values to a respective plurality of transmit powers associated, respectively, with the plurality of uplink carriers.