Techniques are described that can be used to determine a transmitter power level of a mobile station based on spectrum efficiency gain and loss. Spectrum efficiency gain is measured for a home sector base station. Spectrum efficiency loss is measured for base stations other than the home sector base station. In one example, a base station transmits information such as noise plus interference level to a mobile station and the mobile station determines the transmitter power level. In another example, the mobile station transmits information such as preamble signal strength and preamble total signal strength to the home sector base station and the home sector base station determines the transmitter power level and instructs the mobile station to apply the determined transmitter power level.