Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a physical uplink power level for transmissions on a physical uplink channel. In one embodiment, a random access channel (RACH) uplink message is transmitted. The RACH uplink message includes a RACH message power level and/or a downlink pathloss figure. A downlink message including a power offset value is received. The physical uplink power level is set for transmissions on the physical uplink channel based on the power offset value. In another embodiment, a RACH uplink message is transmitted and a downlink message including a relative power offset value is received. The physical uplink power level for transmissions on the physical uplink channel is then set based on the relative power off set value.