This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing transmission power limit back-off for Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) compliance. In one aspect, a method implemented in a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving an indication of at least one operating mode indicative of a proximity and an orientation of at least one transmitting antenna of the wireless communication apparatus. The method further includes determining a power transmission characteristic based on the determined operating mode and at least one of a radio access technology type, a band-class, a transmission configuration, an uplink channel, a traffic state, and a radio access technology transmission state used by the wireless communication apparatus, or any combination thereof.