diff --git a/pkg/apis/mysql/v1alpha1/types.go b/pkg/apis/mysql/v1alpha1/types.go
index dcc8735cf..c0275dea5 100644
--- a/pkg/apis/mysql/v1alpha1/types.go
+++ b/pkg/apis/mysql/v1alpha1/types.go
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ type ClusterSpec struct {
 	// set of Nodes a Pod can be scheduled on
 	Tolerations *[]corev1.Toleration `json:"tolerations,omitempty"`
 	// Resources holds ResourceRequirements for the MySQL Agent & Server Containers
-	Resources *Resources `json:"resources,omitempty"`
+	Resources *Resources        `json:"resources,omitempty"`
+	PodLabels map[string]string `json:"podLabels,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // ClusterConditionType represents a valid condition of a Cluster.
diff --git a/pkg/resources/statefulsets/statefulset.go b/pkg/resources/statefulsets/statefulset.go
index b3ae46f3c..d842ac9b8 100644
--- a/pkg/resources/statefulsets/statefulset.go
+++ b/pkg/resources/statefulsets/statefulset.go
@@ -383,6 +383,12 @@ func NewForCluster(cluster *v1alpha1.Cluster, images operatoropts.Images, servic
 		podLabels[constants.LabelClusterRole] = constants.ClusterRolePrimary
 	}
 
+	if cluster.Spec.PodLabels != nil {
+		for k, v := range cluster.Spec.PodLabels {
+			podLabels[k] = v
+		}
+	}
+
 	ss := &apps.StatefulSet{
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 			Namespace: cluster.Namespace,
diff --git a/pkg/resources/statefulsets/statefulset_test.go b/pkg/resources/statefulsets/statefulset_test.go
index fc3050e79..ccbb15b2c 100644
--- a/pkg/resources/statefulsets/statefulset_test.go
+++ b/pkg/resources/statefulsets/statefulset_test.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 package statefulsets
 
 import (
+	"github.com/oracle/mysql-operator/pkg/constants"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -357,3 +358,23 @@ func TestClusterNotSetGroupExitStateArgs(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.NotContains(t, cmd, "--loose-group-replication-exit-state-action=READ_ONLY")
 }
+
+func TestClusterWithPodLabels(t *testing.T) {
+	cluster := &v1alpha1.Cluster{
+		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
+			Name: "test",
+		},
+		Spec: v1alpha1.ClusterSpec{
+			PodLabels: map[string]string{
+				"example.com/testing": "enabled",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	cluster.EnsureDefaults()
+	statefulSet := NewForCluster(cluster, mockOperatorConfig().Images, "mycluster")
+
+	// check original labels exist
+	assert.Equal(t, "test", statefulSet.Spec.Template.Labels[constants.ClusterLabel])
+	// check additional labels exist
+	assert.Equal(t, "enabled", statefulSet.Spec.Template.Labels["example.com/testing"])
+}