The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for transmit power calibration in a frequency division multiplexed wireless system (100). The method may include receiving (315) an uplink scheduling grant at a user equipment (120), establishing (320) a desired power level based on at least the uplink scheduling grant, and setting (325) hardware power settings based on the desired power level. The method may also include transmitting (330) data in a first subframe at a first power level based on the hardware power settings, measuring (335) the first power level in the first subframe, and determining (340) a difference between the desired power level and the measured first power level. The method may additionally include modifying (345) the hardware power settings based on the difference and transmitting (350) at a second power level based on the modified hardware power settings in a next transmission corresponding to the transmission in the first subframe.